RANIA Zara Medina will not allow critics to break her spirit and will serve the interest of the transgender community as a representative on the Health Ministry’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM).

The appointment was met with derision from those opposed to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and there were demands for it to be withdrawn after it became public.

“The opposition from minorities will not stop me in the fight to make Malaysia a zero HIV-positive country by the year 2030,” she said in an Instagram post today.

Rania was appointed to the position on June 25 and became public after she posted the appointment letter from the Health Ministry on social media.

Rania, who was named 2017 Trans Woman Queen, also speaks 10 languages.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the appointment was made according to procedures carried out since the previous government and said he will not rescind it.

“For certain, the appointment was made based on the practice carried out since a long time ago by the previous government. It was done through the same process, so there is no need for a review.

“The appointment is in compliance with all regulations,” he said yesterday.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye, who is CCM chairman, in a statement yesterday said it was a Global Fund requirement that CCM’s 25 members represent stakeholders in government, civil societies and academia, and also comprise representatives from targeted communities, such as transgenders, gays, female sex workers, drug users and people living with HIV/AIDS.

He said the community representatives were chosen from the targetted groups and were confirmed through appointment letters issued by the CCM chairman.

CCM Malaysia was formed following a cabinet decision in 2009 to find ways to tackle HIV/AIDS via a contribution from the Global Fund. – July 13, 2019.