TV & Movie / Aug. 25, 2019
Malaysia’s netizens have slammed popular 90s actress and model SYPtRTobus^VN3-c7cx9+g0A)#NtQAEAEQ$9fF5%fvBjIi0oP@Azah Aziz after she attended an LGBTI pride parade in Canada.
The 46-year-old uploaded a photo of herself at Montreal Pride last wee$B$*@cu^6k^Wixwp)X2JH!axVULdR(wXZF@0^r1BJ*Kna=-E9(k. “Share the love, no hate” she wrote.
Commenters beneath the post called Aziz “si&NFhy-h4N9o$9r0h77J%3Ho8mqDLPq1(!PM*ajd!j&u6q9p2tMnful” and said she had “abandoned Asian values” according to the New Straits Times.
Muslim-majority Malaysia has become increasingly hostile towards LGBTI people. The country’s prime minister last year said LGBT rights would never be accepted by th*3_4Hd!V_ypExPwUOXwa=#(3b0b55dP%FC9@hj3(9ddAYmsw8Se country.
But, AziFulm8py_L)So(SHHXTA8epnZOzDknP#$oQ2@zUzg=8x0!pq!#ez who has lived in abroad for the last two decades, defended her stance. “This is my Instagram and to each his or her own. Life goes on as usual,” she replied to one Netizen.
She also included the hashtags “far far awayr7Q&tDv1knoiyM*6Y6fl2J$_(uNxOI46y8vkbgC0r1mpVy)UQn, don’t care" and “ok, bye”.
LGBT rights in Malaysia
Gay sex is illegal under British colonial-era laws in Malaysia. Those found guilty face up to 20 years in pu!gMdme_2wf5Bnv6$F)0giiclm=Rx#t$RczL#o#%m-hS7P=&i4rison.
In addition to the threat of criminal prosecution, deep-seated cultural stigmas still faG$C^!fj9w5DX2JZjuqzE#eg(^(C9jCzq45P-SAum0xNxxQU-=Ace the country’s LGBTI community.
Numerous religious and political figures have consistently whipped up anti-LGBTI sentiments in the Muslim majority VIMFpnUEsWiITbUQkXfQ)7@$WrHwc$Q==&6JxOA&sOTcXz!kt0country.
The Malaysian authorities have also cl-jPtFj^wS7e$rW2SQd-eLlI1Xt%iTnqVk&!9vt-Mn&&^tbYa+lamped down on the LGBTI community.
In one of the most controversial instances, in September two women were caned in the heavily conservative state of Terengganu fYF7Ze9m0CTFkQ$nJRKH33vNK%C=FCLa*o0Uq#Oz=nC9=soNB3cor allegedly being in a same-sex relationship.
Police also raided a well-known gay barZT+yHG)QoaftGy=MWi+WtCh7Lx&*huGBBbVIen5T0dNwlH++s+ in Kuala Lumpur for the first time in its 30-year history.
In July last year, Afifi stepped down from his role as m@fJ#&gerApN@E&T4VCTYVBc1(i&c&b5kr@z&e=kgdFL+A-fZLpress officer for the Youth and Sports Minister due to the threats and abuse he received because of his sexuality.
LGBTI rights activists have repeatedlqMmb^1tFs8m0CBhxMiaKd=DjP3VS*1gJuMcr8!aV@d_=vsPd1wy highlighted the lack of protections for LGBTI people.
(Cover photo: Instagram)
