After death threats, activist Nisha worries for transgender community

Melati A. Jalil Melati A. Jalil Updated 5 years ago · Published on 10 Aug 2018 8:45PM · 4 Comments

Transgender activist Nisha Ayub and minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa at a press conference after their meeting in Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, August 10, 2018.

MALAYSIA’S prominent transgender activist Nisha Ayub, whose portrait was taken down from a photography exhibition at the George Town Festival 2018, said she was not aware of the exhibition and the use of her picture. 

She said the photo was taken last year in conjunction the 60th Merdeka celebration and only learnt of it when she was tagged on Facebook. 

“It’s okay that my picture was taken down, it’s not a big issue for me. I’m just worried about the impact from this whole scenario, which is the hatred (towards transgender community) because people send me hate messages and death threats.

“For me honestly the removal of my picture is not a big issue anymore because my main concern is about the safety of the transgender community,” she told members of the media in a press conference after a meeting with Minister in charge of Islamic Affairs, Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

Despite not being aware of the use of her picture for the exhibition, Nisha however added that she understood that the photographer had the right to use her picture. 

Nisha’s portrait and that of Pang Khee Teik were removed from a photography exhibition at the ongoing festival that runs until September.

Held in conjunction with Merdeka month, the exhibition’s theme, Strokes and Stripes, is supposed to display the patriotism of various individuals who are prominent in Malaysian society. 

Also exhibited are the portraits of DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, lawyer and activist Siti Kasim and activist Marina Mahathir. Mujahid ordered the removal after receiving complaints.

Nisha, who lauded Mujahid’s efforts to meet her, said she would not fight for her picture to be put up as her main concern was the acceptance of public towards her community. 

“I need to put my community first before me, I’m looking at the bigger picture for my community,” she said, adding that she was an advocate for transgender community, not LGBT activist. 

Mujahid, who was present at the press conference, stood by his earlier instructions, saying the organiser should have done proper research on Nisha’s background, as she was a transgender advocate not an activist for LGBT community. 

“It’s very unnecessary with what you (organiser) are doing. I’m taking that stance in order to protect the safety of these people who will receive backlash, imagine if it was there for one month.

“For me it’s the organiser to be blamed. You don’t put people’s pictures without their information and you don’t put label to people who don’t belong to such activism,” he said. – August 10, 2018.

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Comments

  • Do we really need a "Minister in charge of Islamic Affairs"? It's becoming more & more obvious that once you create such an office, whoever is appointed to it immediately begins to feel compelled to make a few totally absurd & unneccessary decisions that only give rise to anxiety, divisiveness & institutionalized prejudice against anyone who opts to live beyond the narrowest definitions of mainstream culture.

    Posted 5 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply

    • Sure, if not we have a lot of ISIS alongside all kind of liberal. Extremists exist on both end...too loose, the other end will be as reactive...it will be explosive.

      Posted 5 years ago by Azmin Ishak · Reply

  • The minister is plain backward n just cant change to the new Malaysia attitude.Now he is twisting his excuse....phew, Tun.M needs to step in.....we don't want old culture n tongue twisting actions.i voted for pH to see changes....

    Posted 5 years ago by Wee Tuan Hock · Reply

  • The minister is plain backward n just cant change to the new Malaysia attitude.Now he is twisting his excuse....phew, Tun.M needs to step in.....we don't want old culture n tongue twisting actions.i voted for pH to see changes....

    Posted 5 years ago by Wee Tuan Hock · Reply