The day Malaysia loses its humanity is the day that all hope for a better Malaysia dies

Seksualiti Merdeka stops all functions

Tarani Palani | November 5, 2011

The organisers of the event said this is to ensure the safety of all festival participants

PETALING JAYA: Seksualiti Merdeka organizers said today that they have stopped all events to ensure the the safety of the festival participants. They are also seeking an audience with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ismail Omar over the matter.

“In the interest of the safety of our participants, we will not proceed with all public events of Seksualiti Merdeka while we seek a meeting with the IGP Ismail Omar to explain the objectives of Seksualiti Merdeka.” the organisers said in a statement today.

The organizers also called the blanket ban on the festival which celebrates rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community as “unprecedented” as the event has been conducted since 2008.

On Thursday, Deputy-Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar announced a blanket ban on any function related to the Seksualiti Merdeka programme in the interest of public order.He said that event organizers, including former Bar Council President S.Ambiga will be called in for questioning.

Ambiga in a statement yesterday clarified that she was not one of the organizers but was invited to officiate the event on Nov 9 in her personal capacity.

The festival and Ambiga’s association with it has drawn much criticism with right-wing group Perkasa and Islamic party PAS being two of the most vocal detractors.They alleged that Seksualiti Merdeka promotes unnatural lifestyle. Even Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin weighed in and called the event “immoral”.

Event organisers today called these attacks as “completely unjustified” and “ill-intended” made to incite hate against the community.

They also expressed regret that Ambiga has been “defamed” by detractors who are against the LBGTIQ community in Malaysia.

“The intimidating displays of hatred and ignorance towards us and calls for us to be shut down demonstrate why we absolutely need a safe space for an event like Seksualiti Merdeka,” they said.

They added that the event stood for “everyone who believes they have a right to make their own decisions over their bodily autonomy and bodily integrity”.

Arguing that they were Malaysian citizens whose rights to identity and self-determination were denied, they said: “Sexuality is an integral part of the personality of every human being,

“We firmly oppose all forms of stigma, discrimination, and persecution targeted to interfere and deny our rights to our sexuality”.

The government, they said must guarantee their (LGBTIQ community) right to conduct peaceful forums and workshops. Above that, the government also has to condemn all forms of discrimination and uphold the human rights of this community, they added.

They argued that by domestic and international law, their rights were guaranteed.

They said that the Federal Constitution explicitly guarantees equality and protection to all Malaysians from discrimination on the basis of gender.

Even National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), they said has affirmed its stand that “all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, are entitled to enjoy their basic rights as human beings”.

Furthermore, Malaysia as a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and the United Nations Charter has promised to uphold human dignity and to preserve humanity.