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Marina (right) looks on as Ambiga speaks during a press conference outside the Tenaganita office, in Petaling Jaya November 7, 2011. — Picture by Jack Ooi |
Reader's comments
"The couple of times I went, they had talks on law and issues faced by the community both in Malaysia, and other Asian countries. They weren't 'doing-it' with one another in an orgy for all to watch. They weren't promoting free-sex. They weren't promoting same-sex orgies."
"That shows how crooked & corrupted their minds are thinking that 'Seksualiti Merdeka' is about free sex for all."
"We the peaceful rakyat of Malaysia SALUTE you, Marina Mahathir. It's also nice for the rakyat to voice their grievance against the present governance under BN with the support of such NGOs like Bersih, Seksualiti Merdeka & Tenaganita. These NGOs are truly what we people in the street need compare with NGOs like Perkasa who discriminate or create a disharmony among the people."
Read The Malaysia Insider and The Star article below...
PETALING JAYA, Nov 7 — An emotional Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir lashed out today at media reports describing “Seksualiti Merdeka” as a “free sex festival”, and threatened to sue if the matter was not clarified.
She told a media conference that “no words could describe” her anger at hearing the event being described as such on television station TV3 last night, and warned a reporter from the station of consequences if her statement today is misreported.
“I have been looking at your face and we know who you are,” the eldest daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said during the press conference on the front porch of Tenaganita’s headquarters here, visibly shaking with anger.
Marina had turned up at the NGO’s single-storey office on Jalan Gasing this evening to lend support to four fellow human rights activists who were being questioned by police over their involvement in the recently-banned sexuality rights festival.
The four are Seksualiti Merdeka founder Pang Khee Teik, Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan, Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez, and Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah.
“I am here only as a supporter because two years ago, I officiated Seksualiti Merdeka without any incident,” she said.
Marina explained the event was not to promote free sex, but to help the marginalised lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community understand their legal rights.
“It is an event to explain and educate them of their rights within the laws, and not outside.
“So I am very angry, very angry, there are no words to describe, at certain parties calling this a free sex festival. You have nothing better to do? Nowhere here is free sex allowed... are you crazy to imagine this?” she charged.
Marina reacted with irritation when a reporter later asked Ambiga if she would continue to her struggle in support of events like Seksualiti Merdeka, and pointed out that the former Bar Council president’s involvement in the event was merely to officiate its opening.
“For the struggle, ask me. I have been defending their (the LGBT community’s) rights for over 20 years now. In fact, I defend the rights of all who have been discriminated [against] — the poor, and everyone else.
“So if there is any discrimination or violence against anyone, I will continue to defend their rights. That’s it. Do you understand?” she said.
Marina then threatened legal action against any media organisation that misreports her statement today.
“I will not discriminate against TV3,” she said.
Seksualiti Merdeka, a movement championing the freedom for sexual orientation and gender identity, has been holding the festival annually since 2008 but sparked a heated debate after the government banned the celebration.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police were not against freedom of expression or human rights but had to step in because the organisers did not have a permit to hold the festival in public.
Khalid added the police were investigating the matter under section 298A of the Penal Code and section 27A(1)(c) of the Police Act and had linked Ambiga to the movement.
Malay rights group Perkasa and other Muslim NGOs have held small protests against the event outside mosques in Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam, which they said insulted Islam as the religion of the country.
She told a media conference that “no words could describe” her anger at hearing the event being described as such on television station TV3 last night, and warned a reporter from the station of consequences if her statement today is misreported.
“I have been looking at your face and we know who you are,” the eldest daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said during the press conference on the front porch of Tenaganita’s headquarters here, visibly shaking with anger.
Marina had turned up at the NGO’s single-storey office on Jalan Gasing this evening to lend support to four fellow human rights activists who were being questioned by police over their involvement in the recently-banned sexuality rights festival.
The four are Seksualiti Merdeka founder Pang Khee Teik, Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan, Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez, and Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah.
“I am here only as a supporter because two years ago, I officiated Seksualiti Merdeka without any incident,” she said.
Marina explained the event was not to promote free sex, but to help the marginalised lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community understand their legal rights.
“It is an event to explain and educate them of their rights within the laws, and not outside.
“So I am very angry, very angry, there are no words to describe, at certain parties calling this a free sex festival. You have nothing better to do? Nowhere here is free sex allowed... are you crazy to imagine this?” she charged.
Marina reacted with irritation when a reporter later asked Ambiga if she would continue to her struggle in support of events like Seksualiti Merdeka, and pointed out that the former Bar Council president’s involvement in the event was merely to officiate its opening.
“For the struggle, ask me. I have been defending their (the LGBT community’s) rights for over 20 years now. In fact, I defend the rights of all who have been discriminated [against] — the poor, and everyone else.
“So if there is any discrimination or violence against anyone, I will continue to defend their rights. That’s it. Do you understand?” she said.
Marina then threatened legal action against any media organisation that misreports her statement today.
“I will not discriminate against TV3,” she said.
Seksualiti Merdeka, a movement championing the freedom for sexual orientation and gender identity, has been holding the festival annually since 2008 but sparked a heated debate after the government banned the celebration.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police were not against freedom of expression or human rights but had to step in because the organisers did not have a permit to hold the festival in public.
Khalid added the police were investigating the matter under section 298A of the Penal Code and section 27A(1)(c) of the Police Act and had linked Ambiga to the movement.
Malay rights group Perkasa and other Muslim NGOs have held small protests against the event outside mosques in Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam, which they said insulted Islam as the religion of the country.
//
Seksualiti Merdeka not a 'free sex party', says Marina
PETALING JAYA: Seksualiti Merdeka is about discussion and spreading awareness on the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender (LBGT) community and not a free sex party, said Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.Marina, who has launched the event in 2009, said she was upset with the unfair reporting by certain quarters, portraying the event as a "pesta seks bebas".
“In the past two years, the event was held without a hitch. It only discussed human rights from the LBGT (lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender) community,” said Marina.
She added that the event was filled with talks and activities to spread awareness on the LBGT and also sexual orientation.
She said this after police recorded statements from former Bar Council president Datuk S. Ambiga, Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez, Empower Malaysia executive director Maria Chin Abdullah, and Seksualiti Merdeka co-founder Pang Khee Teik.
All of them had their statements taken at the Tenaganita office here Monday.
Ambiga said the LBGT community is a minority that faces discrimination daily and such irresponsible reporting could cause more harm than good.
“The Mak Nyah (transexuals) are one of the minorities, who face a lot of discrimination and some of them even get beaten up for being themselves.
“I am seriously concerned that labelling them negatively can lead to them being abused more frequently,” she said adding that she would take legal action if such reporting continued.
Pang said he would meet with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar in the next three days to clarify the intentions of the event.
“We are not a perhimpunan haram (illegal gathering) or a pesta seks bebas like certain quarters have suggested,” he said.
Seksualiti Merdeka, an event organised by a coalition of NGOs, artistes, activists and individuals, have described themselves as “Malaysia's only festival celebrating the human rights of people of diverse sexual orientation”.
The event has been held annually since 2008, and was supposed to host a series of activities to last until Nov 13 at the Annexe Gallery of Central Market here.
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