Jakim urges gender confused parties to join rehabilitation camps

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has invited more people, specifically those who are gender-confused to join its special programme with State Islamic Religious Departments (Jain).
Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha said they could join the programmes, in the form of camps, which was based on self empowerment, spirituality and rehabilitation, voluntarily.
Those keen can contact Jakim's Family, Social and Community Division at 03-88864000, he said in a statement yesterday.
"We have never forced any parties to take part in the programme we offered but we go down and promote it via Facebook for them to join the programme," he said.
Othman also hoped the three bridal beauticians involved in the transgender issue as reported recently would contact Jakim voluntarily to take part in the programme.
He said the Appeals Court on Nov 7 had allowed the appeal submitted by three bridal beauticians, Muhamad Juzaili Mohamad Khamis, 26, Syukor Jani, 28, and Wan Fairol Wan Ismail, 30, to declare Section 66 of the Negeri Sembilan Syariah Crime Enactment had contravened the Federal Constitution.
Othman said the Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the High Court which rejected a judicial review filed by the three Muslim men.
"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 said.
However, Othman said the provision was specifically for Muslims.
Commenting further, he said since the programme related to gender confusion was started in 2010, it received very encouraging response from more than 1,000 people, specifically the transgender group and Muslim men dressed in women's clothing. – Bernama