The Negeri Sembilan state government will be filing an appeal to the Federal Court in an attempt to overturn a landmark ruling last Friday on the right of Malaysian Muslim men to cross-dress.
Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan told Bernama that although his administration respected the decision of the Court of Appeal, it was nevertheless arguing that the decision Section 66 of the Negeri Sembilan Syariah Criminal Enactment 1992, which prohibits Muslim men from dressing in women’s clothes, was unconstitutional should be reviewed from a religious point of view.
“So, we will emphasize that this law comes from religious sources. So, I will file an appeal as soon as possible and I will also get the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council (MAINS) as an interjector and I hope other state Islamic councils will also join us as interjectors in the appeal,” he told the press yesterday.
He added that the case was an important one, and if not addressed accordingly, would jeopardise the status of Islam in Malaysia.
In a separate report, Bernama cites the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) as urging people it deems as “gender-confused” to check themselves in to special programmes conducted by state religious departments.
Jakim director-general Othman Mustapha said Malaysian Muslim transgenders could voluntarily sign up for the programmes, which he said were focused on self-empowerment, spirituality and rehabilitation.
In commenting on the negeri Sembilan Syariah law ruled onconstitutional last week, he said, “The provision barring men from dressing like women is aimed at curbing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender practices which clearly are at odds with the teachings of Islam.”
He urged those interested in joining the transgender rehabilitation programmes to contact Jakim’s Family, Social and Community Division at 03-88864000.
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