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Memorandum
to SUHAKAM
(Malaysian Human Rights Commission)
28 August
2003
Memorandum
Kepada SUHAKAM
We,
the undersigned, are truly alarmed and distressed at the recent media
spotlight on the issue of 'effeminate men', 'masculine women' and the
related issue of the presence of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
(GLBT) individuals living and working in Malaysia. So far, the media
and the public have taken a stand that is hostile towards individuals
identifying as either 'effeminate men', 'masculine women' or GLBT. We
are deeply concerned over the consequences of such a stand towards these
individuals.
First,
the impression that the media is taking a hostile stand towards these
individuals is
strengthened by the fact that almost all reports so far have demonized
the phenomena of 'effeminate men', 'masculine women' and GLBTs. Various
sources quoted by the media denounce such individuals as 'abnormal',
'deviant' and in need of 'rehabilitation'. However, very little effort
has been made to consult a cross-section of individuals identifying
as 'effeminate men', 'masculine women' or GLBT to present their side
of the story in a fair, balanced and responsible manner. This can only
lead members of the public to conclude that in effect, the Malaysian
mass media is now orchestrating a witch-hunt on 'effeminate men', 'masculine
women' and GLBT. Such a witch-hunt could very well make these vulnerable
and marginalized groups even more vulnerable and marginalised.
Second,
we are disturbed by the link that is being made by the media between
the phenomenon of 'effeminate men', homosexuality and general misconduct
and a decline in moral values. This link is, at best, misguided and
ill-informed, and yet the tone that is
taken by the various media reports is one of panic and disgust, demanding
that citizens start policing each other to 'stamp out' such 'abnormality'.
This could dangerously be interpreted as an endorsement for various
individuals and bodies to invade the privacy
of citizens in order to monitor their personal lives and arbitrarily
'punish' or 'rehabilitate' them. This invasion of privacy would surely
lead to various levels of human rights violations.
Third,
the demonisation of 'effeminate men', 'masculine women' and GLBTs is
particularly alarming because it is illustrative of the extent of media
participation in the persecution of marginalized and/or minority groups.
These groups are already
voiceless due to various levels of stigma and discrimination they experience
from the mainstream majority, and they are made more vulnerable by such
unfair representations in the media. Today, the media demonises groups
based on their sexual identities,
tomorrow it could be demonizing groups on the basis of ethnicity, religion,
class, nationality or political affiliation. A functioning democracy
should protect its marginalized citizens, not persecute them. It should
protect their rights to free expression and free association, not silence
and intimidate them.
Fourth,
due to the widespread stigma and discrimination already faced by 'effeminate
men', 'masculine women' and GLBTs, we are worried that the media's biased
representation could be interpreted as an endorsement for individuals
and bodies to persecute individuals perceived or identified as such.
Such persecution could manifest in various levels of violence, constituting
a grave violation of human rights.
In light
of these urgent concerns, we urge Suhakam:
First,
to push for the protection of the human rights of individuals perceived
or identified as 'effeminate men', 'masculine women' and GLBTs under
the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Second,
to pressure the government to repeal all laws that outlaw mutually consensual
sexual behaviour between adults.
Third,
to further educate citizens on constitutional provisions for the protection
of the human rights of citizens and non-citizens, and to further educate
the public on the principles and spirit of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights.
Fourth,
to pressure the government to repeal all laws that restrict freedom
of expression and freedom of information.
We hope
that together, we will all be able to protect the democratic principles
enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution, and strengthen the practice
of a truly humane, participatory democracy in Malaysia.
Memorandum kepada Suhakam
(Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia)
28 Ogos 2003
Kami
amatlah cemas dan dukacita tentang fokus media baru-baru ini terhadap
isu 'lelaki lembut', 'wanita keras' dan isu yang berkaitan iaitu kewujudan
kumpulan gay, lesbian, biseksual dan trans-jantina (GLBT) yang menetap
dan bekerja di Malaysia. Setakat ini, pihak media dan orang umum telah
mengambil pendirian yang berseteru terhadap individu-individu yang dilihat
sebagai 'lelaki lembut', 'wanita keras' atau GLBT.
Kami amatlah risau akan kesan-kesan pendirian yang begini terhadap mereka
ini.
Pertamanya,
persepsi umum bahawa pihak media sedang berseteru terhadap individu-individu
ini dikuatkan oleh hakikat bahawa hampir kesemua liputan media
setakat ini sebenarnya bersifat menyerang dan memangsakan fenomena 'lelaki
lembut', 'wanita keras' dan GLBT. Sumber-sumber yang dipetik di dalam
liputan media rata-ratanya mengecam individu-individu sedemikian sebagai
'tidak normal', 'melanggar fitrah', dan perlu 'dibanteras' atau 'dipulihkan'.
Walau bagaimanapun, hampir tidak ada usaha untuk merujuk kepada individu-individu
yang terlibat agar mereka dapat menerangkan kedudukan mereka dengan
cara yang adil, seimbang dan bertanggungjawab. Maka, pihak umum hanya
dapat membuat kesimpulan bahawa media massa Malaysia sebenarnya sedang
menyerang 'lelaki lembut', 'wanita keras' dan GLBT. Serangan sedemikian
kemungkinan besar akan menggugat lagi kedudukan golongan-golongan ini
yang sudah lemah dan terpinggir.
Keduanya,
kami amatlah terganggu oleh dakwaan pihak media tentang kaitan antara
fenomena 'lelaki lembut', 'wanita keras', homoseksualiti dan keruntuhan
akhlak.
Paling tidak pun, kaitan ini amatlah jahil dan tidak berasas. Tetapi
nada pihak media sememangnya cemas dan jijik, dan menuntut agar rakyat
jelata mula mengawasi pergerakan sesetengan individu supaya dapat 'membanteras
gejala' ini. Nada ini mungkin dibaca oleh sesetengah pihak sebagai sokongan
untuk mereka mencerobohi kehidupan peribadi seseorang itu dengan sewenang-wenangnya
untuk mengawasi segala pergerakannya. Pencerobohan peribadi ini sememangnya
akan membawa kepada pelbagai tahap pencabulan hak asasi manusia.
Ketiganya,
pemangsaan 'lelaki lembut', 'wanita keras' dan GLBT amatlah mencemaskan
kerana ia menampakkan betapa aktifnya penglibatan pihak media terhadap
penganiayaan kumpulan terpinggir atau minoriti. Kumpulan-kumpulan ini
sudah tidak bersuara kerana
diskriminasi mereka hadapi daripada majoriti arus perdana, dan kedudukan
mereka menjadi semakin lemah dan terpinggir akibat liputan media yang
tidak adil ini. Hari ini, pihak media menganiaya minoriti seksual, besok
ia mungkin akan menganiaya minoriti-minoriti berasaskan agama, kaum,
pangkat, kewarganegaraan atau keahlian politik. Sebuah demokrasi sepatutnya
melindungi hak-hak minoritinya, bukan menganiaya
mereka. Ia sepatutnya melindungi hak mereka untuk bersuara, bukan menyaring
mereka.
Keempatnya,
oleh kerana diskriminasi yang tersebar luas terhadap golongan 'lelaki
lembut', 'wanita keras' dan GLBT, kami amatlah risau bahawa liputan
pihak media yang berat sebelah akan dipergunakan oleh sesetengah pihak
untuk bertindak ganas terhadap
individu-individu yang dikenali sebagai demikian. Tindakan-tindakan
ganas ini sememangnya juga merupakan pencabulan hak asasi manusia.
Oleh
yang demikian, kami menggesa Suhakam agar:
Pertamanya,
memastikan perlindungan hak asasi individu-individu yang dilihat sebagai
atau mengaku diri mereka itu 'lelaki lembut', 'wanita keras' dan GLBT,
berdasarkan peruntukan Perlembagaan Malaysia dan Pengisytirahan Hak
Asasi Manusia Sejagat.
Keduanya,
menggesa kerajaan untuk memansuhkan semua undang-udang yang mengharamkan
perbuatan seks antara orang dewasa yang saling rela.
Ketiganya,
mengajar rakyat Malaysia tentang peruntukan-peruntukan Perlembagaan
yang melindungi hak asasi rakyat dan bukan rakyat, dan juga mengajar
orang umum tentang prinsip-prinsip Pengisytiharan Hak Asasi Manusia
Sejagat.
Keempatnya,
menggesa kerajaan untuk memansuhkan semua undang-undang yang menyekat
kebebasan bersuara dan kebebasan maklumat.
Kami
berharap bahawa bersama-sama, kita dapat melindungi prinsip-prinsip
demokratik yang termaktub di dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia, dan dapat
memperkukuhkan lagi amalan sebuah demokrasi yang benar-benar berperikemanusiaan
dan disertai oleh seluruh rakyat.
Endorsed
by:
1. Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC)
2. Management Institute for Social Change (MINSOC)
3. PENITAJAYA Sdn Bhd (penerbit majalah PENITA)
4. Pink Triangle Foundation (PTF)
5. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
6. Sustainable Development Network (SUSDEN) Malaysia
7. Universiti Bangsar Utama, UBU
8. Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)
9. Women's Candidacy Initiative (WCI)
Signed
by 133 concerned individuals
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