Dr M claims ignorance over government appointment of transgender Raina while Wanita Umno slams government, saying appointment against our moral values.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he doesn’t know the gender of a person, said to be a transwoman, who was recently appointed into a committee under the Health Ministry.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference at the Parliament lobby Wednesday (July 10), Dr Mahathir questioned if there were indeed confirmations to prove that Rania Zara Medina was a transgender woman.
“What transgender? Did you examine her? Are you sure she is a transgender?” Dr Mahathir retorted cheekily when asked for his comment on the stereotype-busting appointment during a press conference in Parliament today.
“I don’t know how she is a transgender, I have not met her,” he added.
Recently, social media has been abuzz over the appointment of Rania, a former transgender beauty pageant winner, into a committee under the Health Ministry.
The appointment of Rania was to represent the transgender community as a member of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) Malaysia for the 2019-2021 term.
Her appointment went viral after Rania posted her letter of appointment, which was signed by Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye
Her appointment was criticised by various quarters.
Dr Lee defended Rania’s appointment in a statement, saying that CCM Malaysia was formed in 2009 with an aim to tackle HIV/AIDS via a contribution from Global Fund.
“As required by Global Fund, CCM members are made up of 25 people representing stakeholders such as government agencies, NGOs, academicians and community representatives from targeted groups.
“These targeted groups include transgender, men-who-have-sex-with-men, female sex workers, drug users and people living with HIV/AIDS,” said Dr Lee.
Think tank Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy and the Malaysian AIDS Council lauded Rania’s appointment as a step towards a successful HIV strategy.
Galen Centre said Malaysia’s success in HIV reduction was in part due to its strategy of ensuring engagement and participation from marginalised communities.
“Malaysia has always had a transgender representative on its Country Coordinating Mechanism. This role and burden of responsibility have been in recognition that this community is not ‘a problem’ but part of the solution to the country’s epidemic,” Galen Centre chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said in a statement Wednesday.
The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) said the focus for the funding from Global Fund is to address HIV infections among sex workers, transgender people and men who have sex with men.
“MAC urges all parties to respect the outcome of the CCM appointments and work together towards improving the quality of health of all Malaysians regardless of sex, gender, sexuality and other identifiers that may divide us,” it said.
Meanwhile, Wanita Umno says the appointment of Rania challenges the moral values of the community.
Wanita Umno chief Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad slammed the appointment, claiming that LGBT groups have gender dysphoria that goes against the values and beliefs of the majority in the country.
“This culture also violates the law under Section 377A of the Penal Code, Sections 25 and 26 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment and Section 28 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act.
“It is clear that the LGBT community’s right to practise their lifestyle is still subject to the law, which does not allow it in Malaysia,” she said.
Dr Noraini also asked whether the appointment indicates that the government recognises those who promote LGBT practices.
“Hence, Wanita Umno urges the government to explain the reasons for appointing an LGBT ambassador to represent the Health Ministry,” she said in a statement Wednesday (July 10).