The Negeri Sembilan legal adviser insists that Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is curable ignoring Health Ministry medical records that it is a life-long condition.
PUTRAJAYA: The legal adviser for the Negeri Sembilan state government told the Court of Appeals today that transgender people are suffering from a mental disorder which is curable despite Health Ministry reports saying otherwise.
Iskandar Ali Dewa said Section 66 of the syariah law states that a man could not dress or pose as a woman because the disorder was curable.
“They can be cured by dressing as a man again,” said Iskandar ignoring the medical reports from the Health Ministry citing that GID is incurable and a life-long condition.
Three transgender individuals are challenging the state syariah law that prohibits them from expressing their gender identity.
Their lawyer, Aston Paiva, showed proof that the ministry signed the medical reports of the transgender individuals citing that their disorder was incurable.
“According to psychiatrists from the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, the patients suffering from GID are actually women trapped in a man’s body,” said Paiva.
He said his clients were not challenging Islam but the legislative laws that discriminate them.
Justice Mohd Hishamuddin Mohd Yunus is chairing the three-man panel to hear the appeal.
The judges on the panel were disturbed to hear that persecution of the transgender community was continuing while the court has yet to decide on the appeal.
This was in reference to the 15 transgender people who were arrested at a Malay wedding and taken into custody by religious officials in a raid in Bahau on June 8.
“I am disturbed by this and the state should stop this action pending the disposal of this appeal,” said Hishamuddin.
Section 66 of the Negri Sembilan Syariah Criminal Act 1992 makes it an offence for men to cross-dress and provides for punishment of up to six months’ jail, a fine of up to RM1,000 or both upon conviction.
The court will make a decision on Nov 7.
Iskandar Ali Dewa said Section 66 of the syariah law states that a man could not dress or pose as a woman because the disorder was curable.
“They can be cured by dressing as a man again,” said Iskandar ignoring the medical reports from the Health Ministry citing that GID is incurable and a life-long condition.
Three transgender individuals are challenging the state syariah law that prohibits them from expressing their gender identity.
Their lawyer, Aston Paiva, showed proof that the ministry signed the medical reports of the transgender individuals citing that their disorder was incurable.
“According to psychiatrists from the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, the patients suffering from GID are actually women trapped in a man’s body,” said Paiva.
He said his clients were not challenging Islam but the legislative laws that discriminate them.
Justice Mohd Hishamuddin Mohd Yunus is chairing the three-man panel to hear the appeal.
The judges on the panel were disturbed to hear that persecution of the transgender community was continuing while the court has yet to decide on the appeal.
This was in reference to the 15 transgender people who were arrested at a Malay wedding and taken into custody by religious officials in a raid in Bahau on June 8.
“I am disturbed by this and the state should stop this action pending the disposal of this appeal,” said Hishamuddin.
Section 66 of the Negri Sembilan Syariah Criminal Act 1992 makes it an offence for men to cross-dress and provides for punishment of up to six months’ jail, a fine of up to RM1,000 or both upon conviction.
The court will make a decision on Nov 7.
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