Seksualiti Merdeka Donation Drive

The 4th annual Seksualiti Merdeka, Malaysia’s only festival celebrating the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities, will take place this year from 1 to 13 Nov.

We have successfully collaborated with journalists, artists, academicians, students, lawyers, activists and members of the public to create platforms in Malaysia to speak up about these issues. Judging from the growth in participation from NGOs, volunteers, and number of audiences (500 in 2008, 1000 in 2009, 1500 in 2010), we believe we are meeting a need that has gone underserved in Malaysia.

Seksualiti Merdeka is a non-profit initiative, relying on efforts of volunteers and collaborators. The festival is therefore wholly funded via donations from NGOs, friends, participants and anonymous supporters. The success of this meaningful festival depends on the financial support from your organisation or yourself.

In return for your generosity, we offer:
1] Your company’s name & logo on all flyer, mural, buntings, web publicity, press release;
2] Your company's materials on the site during the festival;
3] A booth representing your organisation or company during the festival;
4] Your company thanked during every event at the festival.

Should you prefer, you may also opt to donate anonymously. You may choose to sponsor just one of the events instead of the whole festival.

We welcome donations of any amount from individuals or organisations, but we recommend sums of RM500 / RM1000 / RM2000 / RM3000 / RM4000 / RM5000.

We hope to raise RM36,000 this year to enable the smooth running of all the programmes. If you like a breakdown of our budget and expenses, please let us know and we will send it to you.

If you are able to contribute or have any inquiries, please contact:
Jerome Kugan: +6016 802 7347, jeromekugan@gmail.com
Pang Khee Teik: +6012 305 1135, worldwithoutpangs@gmail.com

Thank you.

Pang Khee Teik
Co-founder and organising chair for Seksualiti Merdeka

Petition against discrimination, misrepresentation, slandering and hate-mongering perpetrated by the media towards transgenders in Malaysia

http://www.change.org/petitions/malaysian-television-stations-newspapers-and-radio-stations-stop-portraying-the-transgender-community-in-negative-and-damaging-light

We, the transgender community of Malaysia have had enough of the discrimination, misrepresentation, slandering and hate-mongering perpetrated by the media of our identities and lives. The recent episode of Wanita Hari Ini: Pondan, Ancaman Wanita/Tranny, Threat to Women (4 October 2011) by TV3 as well as the article in Berita Harian (6 October 2011) (Salah makan punca pondan?/ Wrong food consumption can lead to transsexualism) were very telling of the deeply discriminatory agenda of these media entities. We are appalled by the irresponsible and unethical reporting of the named media.

We demand that the media stop portraying the transgender community in such negative and damaging light. We strongly condemn the publishing of articles which are groundless and damaging to our lives and aspirations.

Response to Wanita Hari Ini 04/10: Pondan, Ancaman Wanita

http://vimeo.com/30074770

Dear TV3,
After viewing the talkshow Wanita Hari Ini "Pondan Ancaman Wanita" on 4th October 2011, I was utterly disgusted in the way your station has portrayed women and transsexuals in Malaysia. Not only has the programme stereotyped women as only working as Makeup Artists or Wedding Planners, but also suggested that women are weak and whiny when faced with the co...mpetitive working industry.
It is very unprofessional for the hosts themselves to be not educated in the area of discussion before the show. What you are showing on television confuses everyone about the issue and incite hate towards the prejudiced. The term "Pondan" and "MakNyah" are 2 very different classes of gender expression. "Pondan" refers to effeminate MEN, which are Lelaki Lembut. Whereas "MakNyah" refers to Transsexuals which are males that desire to be totally female, usually undergoing surgery to alter the body. Pondan or Lelaki Lembut are usually flamboyant men that IDENTIFY themselves as MEN/LELAKI.

A point that was brought forward in the show was, "women are threatened because the pondans are monopolizing the makeup industry". This is wrong as Culinary Arts, Makeup and Hairstyling industries are dominated by men. Masculine men in fact. The title instead should be "Lelaki Ancaman Wanita", because these men are doing what used to be thought as women's job. We have come a long way to recognize that women no longer are subjected to careers in beauty only, but also very capable in previously male-dominated careers like police force, entrepreneurship, civil engineering... etc. Equal career opportunities are given and the best person gets the job, there is no grounds for women in complaining that their work is being taken from them. This violates the Malaysian Constitution that guarantees equality and non-discrimination on the basis of gender.

I am also appalled when pondan/maknyah are accused of "stealing" the husbands from women. Blaming others of the unfaithfulness of ones husband is very childish and illogical. Happiness and trust between man and wife requires more than just sex and food, there is so much more to marriage. Both sides should seek family counselors when faced with cheating, instead of putting the blame on some innocent person. It is the husband that is cheating, not the transsexual, and so she does not deserve to be held responsible for the men's actions.

Equally inappropriate are the panel for discussion. Fatin Sarjat, a university student; Dr. Edward Chan, who is an unqualified psychologist; and Azwan Ali, who is a crossdresser.
I have checked with Dr. Alvin Ng, President of Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology (MSCP), that Dr. Edward Chan is not a registered clinical psychologist and is NOT QUALIFIED to explain the situation to the mass public. He's views on transsexualism may not be calibrated with the world's standard and thus cannot be used as a reference on the topic.
Azwan Ali, is a crossdresser. He is a Pondan in all its definition - a soft BOY/effeminate MEN. Crossdressers are people that dress up as the opposite sex for the thrills of it, but is totally comfortable with their sexual organs. He cannot represent the maknyah community because he never had the need to be a woman. He was having fun being flamboyant, which he still is adorning large rings and bracelets on the show.
Cik Fatin Sarjat is included i believe for the views from the younger generation, but it is not appropriate for her to tell her views about religion on this issue, when she herself is not being religious. Her hair is let loose, and dyed golden, whilst commenting on how pondan is wrong in the words of the Quran - foolish!

I would like to remind your station, that all citizens of Malaysia are protected under the Federal Constitution and Defamation Act 1957. Under no circumstances may any discrimination or defamation be broadcast to incite hate towards Malaysians, regardless of gender. I hereby insist that your station release a press statement to apologize for the slanderous broadcast made to enact fear and hatred towards the transsexual community in Malaysia.