The New Straits Times
IT is so easy to disregard their existence or even shun them, but they are part of society, whether we like it or not.
The Mak Nyah (transsexual) community here always turns heads wherever they go.
Some members of the public are discreet in observing them, there are those who stare openly while others give them disgusted looks.
Many, however, feel that the Mak Nyah community are simply a misunderstood lot.
A lot of transsexuals have difficulty finding jobs and have turned to being sex workers to earn a living.
In Malaysia, there are between 10,000 and 20,000 transsexuals and more than 60 per cent of them are involved in the vice trade.
The Mak Nyah (transsexual) community here always turns heads wherever they go.
Some members of the public are discreet in observing them, there are those who stare openly while others give them disgusted looks.
Many, however, feel that the Mak Nyah community are simply a misunderstood lot.
A lot of transsexuals have difficulty finding jobs and have turned to being sex workers to earn a living.
In Malaysia, there are between 10,000 and 20,000 transsexuals and more than 60 per cent of them are involved in the vice trade.
A study by National Defence University Professor Dr Teh Yik Koon shows that 62 per cent of them have difficulty finding work.
The same study also reveals about 50 per cent of Mak Nyah had been caught by the police and religious authorities for indecent behaviour and cross-dressing.
Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) president Datuk Mohd Zaman Khan says the Mak Nyah community attracts attention because of the way they dress and act and agrees that they are a misunderstood lot.
"In some places, they would be arrested for carrying ladies' handbags."
Zaman gives an example in Negri Sembilan where a Mak Nyah community had organised a fundraising event and a few politicians attended.
"When people found out about it, there was a big fuss about the politicians attending the function."
The perception that Mak Nyah became like they are because they were born in a female-dominated family and only had the influence of women in their lives is wrong.
"There is a medical and biological reason as to why they behave that way," says Zaman, adding that the main problem Mak Nyah faced was the prejudices and negative stigmas associated with them.
"There is this perception that most of them are sex workers, but that is entirely false."
He said there are Mak Nyah who are successful in business and at the top of the corporate ladder. And there are a whole lot of them in the beauty and entertainment industry.
Zaman admits that most transsexuals were denied jobs because of the way they dress, despite the fact that some of them are educated.
"In desperation, they turn to the sex trade to survive. It does not help that they face rejection from their families, too.
"But I believe they can still make a decent living if they remain positive."
He says as society progresses, they are privy to more information about transgenderism, which helps them to understand the community well.
Nowadays, most families are more accepting because they understand the situation better.
Zaman relates a story of his friend who had five children and one became a Mak Nyah.
"When my friend fell sick, it was that child who had looked after him and nursed him back to health."
Zaman says MAC has a close association with this community as their mission is to prevent the spread of HIV virus, which is undeniably prevalent among the Mak Nyah community.
The same study also reveals about 50 per cent of Mak Nyah had been caught by the police and religious authorities for indecent behaviour and cross-dressing.
Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) president Datuk Mohd Zaman Khan says the Mak Nyah community attracts attention because of the way they dress and act and agrees that they are a misunderstood lot.
"In some places, they would be arrested for carrying ladies' handbags."
Zaman gives an example in Negri Sembilan where a Mak Nyah community had organised a fundraising event and a few politicians attended.
"When people found out about it, there was a big fuss about the politicians attending the function."
The perception that Mak Nyah became like they are because they were born in a female-dominated family and only had the influence of women in their lives is wrong.
"There is a medical and biological reason as to why they behave that way," says Zaman, adding that the main problem Mak Nyah faced was the prejudices and negative stigmas associated with them.
"There is this perception that most of them are sex workers, but that is entirely false."
He said there are Mak Nyah who are successful in business and at the top of the corporate ladder. And there are a whole lot of them in the beauty and entertainment industry.
Zaman admits that most transsexuals were denied jobs because of the way they dress, despite the fact that some of them are educated.
"In desperation, they turn to the sex trade to survive. It does not help that they face rejection from their families, too.
"But I believe they can still make a decent living if they remain positive."
He says as society progresses, they are privy to more information about transgenderism, which helps them to understand the community well.
Nowadays, most families are more accepting because they understand the situation better.
Zaman relates a story of his friend who had five children and one became a Mak Nyah.
"When my friend fell sick, it was that child who had looked after him and nursed him back to health."
Zaman says MAC has a close association with this community as their mission is to prevent the spread of HIV virus, which is undeniably prevalent among the Mak Nyah community.
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