The organisers of Seksualiti Merdeka have described the decision by the police to impose a blanket ban on its activities as a tragic day for the country.
Its co-coordinator Pang Khee Teik (left) said basically, the ban means Malaysia has declared compassion and understanding as illegal.
"What we are working on is nothing illegal, as we only want to promote understanding (of the minority groups). This ban has only strengthened my resolve to reinforce and continue to give hope to these minority groups," Pang said.
"We are not doing anything illegal as we hope to provide support and care for these people, and at the same time, promote understanding.
"The country has gone crazy (by imposing the ban). Malaysia is merely succumbing to pressures by some people who chose not to recognise the rights bestowed on these oppressed people."
Asked what the organisers would do following the ban declared by the police, Pang said they have yet to decide on their next course of action.
Stop the intimidation, police told
Seksualiti Merdeka is an annual festival celebrating the human rights of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. It is backed by several NGOs, including the Bar Council, Amnesty International and Suaram.
It was scheduled to be held at the Annexe Gallery of the Pasar Seni (former Central Market) in Kuala Lumpur from Nov 9 to 13.
Suaram's spokesperson E Nalini also condemned the ban.
"We want the police to stop this intimidation and respect minority rights. It is their freedom of expression and opinion to have the Sensualiti Merdeka festival.
"The government should be protecting and promoting their rights, instead of violating them," Nalini said.
Meanwhile, according to Bernama, the deputy director-general of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) Razali Shahabudin said the programme could have negative effects and raise the risk of HIV and Aids infection among Malaysians.
He said in a statement that such activities were also against the norms and lifestyle of the people of various religions in the country.
Festival taints 'merdeka' word
The director-general of the Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) Nik Mustapha Nik Hassan said the programme was clearly uncivilised and deviated from human behaviour and degraded human being as being worse than animals.
In Shah Alam, according the news agency, Umno information head Ahmad Maslan said it was more appropriate for the Seksualiti Merdeka programme to be known as 'deviationist sexuality' and it tainted the word 'merdeka'.
Ahmad, who is also deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said sexual liberty, such as gay and lesbianism not only went against Islamic teachings but also the teachings of other religions.
"Don't be bound to the Western ways which legalised homosexuality, same sex marriages... going against the norms of the country which made Islam as the federal religion," he told reporters after opening a seminar.
13 comments:
Utterly disappointing & highly frustrating. There are some very ignorant beings out there who think that everything and anything must conform to their personal understanding or religion & culture.
In actual fact we have never questioned anyone's religion or culture. Such Foolish Swines Really!
Joshua, I am with you with this matter. It's sickening, moronic and pure ignorance really.
As far as I am concerned, they will never understand us..believe me, it ain't easy being us! It is so easy to point fingers..that's what they do.
Might as well you guys add those who fuck animals... what do they called?? zoophiles??....
LGBTZ!!! your body your rights!!!
Anonymous, people who practice bestiality have a psychiatric disorder. It also does not involve consent.
Homosexuality, on the other hand, is NOT a mental disorder - it is declassified as an illness since the 70s. And unlike with bestiality - any same sex relationships involve two MUTUALLY CONSENTING ADULTS. There's nothing wrong. It's not rape. It's not relationships with a child/minor. Understand that. Read a little about it before you make such a comparison please!
Also, Anonymous... you're more enthusiastic than me, with all your exclamation marks! :) Good on you, a passionate Malaysian.
http://tuahteja.blogspot.com/2011/11/am-i-in-san-francisco.html read this piece.
Jonathan,
Is the human-animal attraction a sickness? Pathology to be cured? As of today bestiality is still on the psychologist’s list of paraphilias or mental disorders, much like homosexuality was a few decades ago. In the case of homosexuality, psychologists were simply unaware of the committed and happy relationships that were possible within homosexuality. Out of plain and simple ignorance, they condemned an entire sexual orientation as a mental sickness. I would make a similar analogy to bestiality - psychologists are simply unaware of the relationships that are possible with animals. Of course not all of those practicing bestiality even consider connecting with an animal so deeply; remember the lonely Shepard. However, there is a considerable community of individuals who find themselves much happier when loving and consummating animal relationships than when restricting themselves to humans; and, barring a concrete wrong (such as animal abuse), I for one will not condemn that happiness. To all appearances, it is fulfilling and complete; it is not indicative of any psychological shortcoming; and when abstaining from internally accepting or practicing bestiality, many zoophiles experience the same symptoms that homosexuals do while still in the closet - most notably extreme loneliness, isolation, and depression. Bestiality cannot be cured, and at least one psychologist has expressed the view that there is no need to change it.
Read more b4 u think that u read more than me..
LGBTZ!!! your body your rights!!!
And Jonathan,
An animal can say yes or no, though they cannot speak human language; it is obvious to even the densest of humans that a dog’s snarl or a horse’s raised hoof means "Back off." Similarly, animals will ask for sex, though the signals can be less blatant and thus one must pay attention to their behavior to interpret them, especially as we are taught in polite society to ignore them. The issue, however, is simple; if an animal wants sex, it will ask for it or consent to sexual advances; if it does not, it will resist, fight back or at the very least make it clear with reluctant body language.
Anonymous,
http://tuahteja.blogspot.com/2011/11/am-i-in-san-francisco.html was a good read for me. it helped me state my standing on this SM matter clearly and up to a certain point, definite. and to note, the writer did it in a well better language than i'd have used. thanks Farah Harith. :)
i really think and urge the supporters/protesters of SM to read and understand the blog writings. It'll somewhat helps to 'clear the air', thats my honest opinion. no judgements here, just opinions.
"What's wrong will remain wrong" - Am I in San Francisco??!!, Sarcasm on A Stick, Farah Harith
*note: i'm no more religious then the next person, nor do i oppose LGBTs. i do oppose their way of life, but not them as a person.
When you're done with the article on tuahteja, give these two a go:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/article/speaking-up-for-my-sexuality/
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/article/on-gay-men-lesbians-and/
I'm actually very support to this event!This is the chance for those LGBT able to speak their feelings and trying to being comfort in this country.I hope Malaysian accept this event.You have no idea how they suffer and not allow to be together with their loved one.They all scare,fear,or underestimated by the whole world or Malaysia.Not only they can't being themselves but also mentally hurt.Please let this event goes,for all the humans right.Being Gay or lesbian is normal.Because they are HUMANS too!
Now, I really respect Ambiga, Marina Mahathir, Phang and those
heading the Seksualiti Merdeka.
They are fighting for the rights
of the minority.
Malaysian should be proud of her,
Ambiga who is honoured as the
Woman of Courage in 2009.
There is every reason why Ambiga is
the President of Lawyers. Ther is
every reason why Hillary and Mrs
Obama meet Ambiga and hnour her.
Every human of rightful mind set will respect Ambiga,Marina Mahathir,Phang etc.
We hope Khalid Abu Bakar can see the suffering of the wifes of homosexuals.If one day Khalid's daughter is married to a homosecual, Khalid will support the
Seksualiti Merdeka too. For a daugther to marry a homosexual is like putting a daugther to no happiness in life.Khalid, you should on the side of Ambiga, Marina Mahathir, not against them
I am happy and proud of Ambiga, Marina Mahathir, Phang who bring
up the Public awareness.
Those who are against Seksualiti Merdeka, pls read the suffering of
the Homosexuals Wife (Hom-Wife).
They can be your daugthers, sisters, aunts, etc. Their life
is ruined once they marry to Gay,
the only way to end their sufferings are to have equal marriage for Gay and Lesbian.
Involvement in an ex-gay experiences brings devastation to many lives, read on
http://beyondexgay.com/article/spouse
By legalise the Homosexual Marriage Rights or same sex marriage right, we can put an end to the sufferings of many straight wifes who marry gay.
For those who against same sex marriage, you will realise one day
when your daughter is married to a gay. You will see her life is an un-eternal suffering because society does not recognise same sex marriage.
Homosexcual is the God's nature. It is the universe's nature.
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