Malaysia ranks second worst country for transgender rights

20-06-2023

Alicia Mankel

Southeast Asia and Pacific and Human Rights Researchers

Global Human Rights Defence

Malaysia was ranked as the second worst country in the world for transgender rights, according to a study conducted by the Global Trans Rights Index (Basyir, Daim, and Sallehuddin, 2023). Accordingly, the worst country globally is Guiana in Southern America (Wong, 2023). The study awarded points based on several criteria, such as the protection of workers, the criminalisation of violence against transgender people, the murder rates of transgender people, and, generally, how a country handles discrimination against related groups (Wong, 2023). 

In Malaysia, both same-sex conduct and gender expression are generally prohibited under the Malaysian Penal Code (Human Rights Watch, n.d.). Muslims are additionally prosecuted under State Sharia laws (Human Rights Watch, 2014). In this context, transgender persons in Malaysia are persecuted by laws that effectively prohibit “cross-dressing” and discriminated in their access to employment, healthcare, and education (Human Rights Watch, 2014). Non-compliance can be punished with prison sentences up to many years, public humiliation, and violence (Human Rights Watch, 2014).

Sources and further reading:

Basyir, M., Daim, N., and Sallehuddin, Q. (2023, June 13). It is worth it, said PN MP on Malaysia's ranking as second worst country for transgender rights. New Straits Times. Retrieved 20 June 2023, from https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/919766/it-worth-it-said-pn-mp-malaysias-ranking-second-worst-country-transgender  

Human Rights Watch (n.d.). #outlawed “The Love that dare not speak its name”. Retrieved on 20 June 2023, from https://features.hrw.org/features/features/lgbt_laws/index.html  

Human Rights Watch (2014, September 24). Malaysia: Transgender People Under Threat. Retrieved 20 June 2023, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/09/24/malaysia-transgender-people-under-threat  

Wong, D.J. (2023, June 13). Malaysia Is World’s Second-Worst Country for Transgender Rights, Study Shows. Mashable SEAsia. Retrieved 20 June 2023, from https://sea.mashable.com/life/24228/malaysia-is-worlds-second-worst-country-for-transgender-rights-study-shows