Homosexuality in Malaysia
ISSUES RELATED TO HOMOSEXUALITY IN MALAYSIA
Recently, there are many issues about homosexuality had occurred. For example “Seksualiti Merdeka” or "Sexuality Independence". Seksualiti Merdeka is an annual sexuality rights festival held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It features a programme of talks, forums, workshops, art, theatre and music performances, interactive installations, and film screenings, organised by a coalition of Malaysian NGOs, artists and individuals. Its aims are to affirm sexuality rights as a human right, to empower individuals and communities of all sexualities and to create platforms for advocacy of sexuality rights.
Seksualiti Merdeka was launched in 2008 by a network of artists and activists advocating for the social, cultural, civil and political rights of Malaysian citizens who are denied the rights to identity and self-determination. The two-week festival, which is always held on private premises, has featured workshops, poetry, music, dance, interactive installations and film screenings to generate discussion, raise awareness, and promote respect for sexual and gender diversity. According to organizers, festival attendance has been growing: 500 people in 2008 and 1500 in 2010.
The 2011 Seksualiti Merdeka, headed by Ambiga Sreenevasan was scheduled from November 2 to 13, with themed "Queer without Fear. But they received complaint from many people. One of them is from Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, who issued the ban against Seksualiti Merdeka told media during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on November 3, "We are not against the people's right to freedom of speech or human rights. However, if the event creates uneasiness among the vast majority of the population, it may result in disharmony, enmity and threaten public order." Mr. Khalid threatened police action against anyone who defied the ban and announced that festival organizers would be taken in for questioning under Section 298A of the
Recently, there are many issues about homosexuality had occurred. For example “Seksualiti Merdeka” or "Sexuality Independence". Seksualiti Merdeka is an annual sexuality rights festival held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It features a programme of talks, forums, workshops, art, theatre and music performances, interactive installations, and film screenings, organised by a coalition of Malaysian NGOs, artists and individuals. Its aims are to affirm sexuality rights as a human right, to empower individuals and communities of all sexualities and to create platforms for advocacy of sexuality rights.
Seksualiti Merdeka was launched in 2008 by a network of artists and activists advocating for the social, cultural, civil and political rights of Malaysian citizens who are denied the rights to identity and self-determination. The two-week festival, which is always held on private premises, has featured workshops, poetry, music, dance, interactive installations and film screenings to generate discussion, raise awareness, and promote respect for sexual and gender diversity. According to organizers, festival attendance has been growing: 500 people in 2008 and 1500 in 2010.
The 2011 Seksualiti Merdeka, headed by Ambiga Sreenevasan was scheduled from November 2 to 13, with themed "Queer without Fear. But they received complaint from many people. One of them is from Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, who issued the ban against Seksualiti Merdeka told media during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on November 3, "We are not against the people's right to freedom of speech or human rights. However, if the event creates uneasiness among the vast majority of the population, it may result in disharmony, enmity and threaten public order." Mr. Khalid threatened police action against anyone who defied the ban and announced that festival organizers would be taken in for questioning under Section 298A of the