The following is an excerpt from the Sun Daily:
Gay couples and those seeking political asylum make up the 180 Malaysians who have sought asylum in the United Kingdom since 2005.
However, of the 180 applications received over the past five years, only 10 were allowed to stay while five cases are pending.
Home Office records show that only 25 applications were received in 2005 but increased to 40 in 2009 and to 55 the following year. These figures were made available to theSun following a request to the Home Office under the Freedom of Information Act. While not everyone recognised as refugees are granted asylum, some were granted permission to stay on "humanitarian protection grounds".
...
Mohammed Fazdil Min Bahari, or Fatine, a transvestite married to Briton Ian Young. Although Mohammed Fazdil’s application for permanent stay was initially rejected, he was granted leave to stay in UK indefinitely after the couple expressed fears of reprisal and prosecution if he was sent back to Malaysia.
...
However, legal sources here said that two of the five who were granted asylum were a gay couple in a relationship. They had strenuously argued that they could not maintain the relationship if they returned to Malaysia and were almost certain to be prosecuted.
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Reader's Comments
great news for the couple although it would be good for them to stay and fight for their rights and recognition.
- not that we don't love this country but it is always safer to go somewhere to truly express my inner desire.
This is NOT therefore an "easy place to live" for a gay person and any malaysian gay person would be justified in seeking asylum because of these laws (whether enforced or not they are there...) .
That said, I must admit that I have long since stopped counting the times when I have been well and thoroughly f*cked in the arse in Malaysia, without telling the authorities first of course. Contrary to what MICHAEL 1 seems to think, I consider Malaysia a very safe place to be, if not as carefree as other places in the area.
even I myself personally was stopped by a cop because I was carrying a huge backpack coming back from thailand.
i had braided my hair from the trip (its not common for a chinese male to braid their hair in malaysia)
and from the braided hair, he assumed I was gay, and when he asked I admitted and continued the conversation
And the cop was pretty okay with it, talking a little bit about homosexuality (still a little akward for him)
but he did not condemn nor try to advise me to go straight.
And as an openly gay man at work, people seems to be alright with me even after almost 2 years working there.
I'd say, most of the people in Malaysia don't really care if u're gay. It's just the religious groups.
The is this expectation that "westerners" are more sexually liberal and open, and in some quarters, homosexuality is even perceived as a "western trend".
Consequently being Caucasian can mean that people (such as police officers) will leave you alone. The reality for locals can be vastly different.
1)malaysia gov actually says that they will not tolerate or compromise to
any gay activities as it is deemed as "haram" or illegal
2)malaysia will never acknowledge gay rights as long as it remains a muslim country as its yup u guessed it,illegal by shari'ah law.
for someone who havent grown up as a local and suffer the consequences of being known as a gay guy in their schools,u wont know the feeling,especially if ur family and friends find out,i admit ppl nowadays are getting the ok sign for being out but u will see changes in their behavior towards u.
Is it not a choice of our own to stay in a country where our rights and views are protected?our sexuality respected and accepted?
U r right. They (#2 and #3) have no idea how people live and feel as Malaysian gays. If they are so certain Malaysia is a good place to be gay. Why don't they give up their citizenship (Not shown in the profile) and become a truely Malaysian? They would not give up for sure because when they will b the ones who will run away when Malaysia is getting into trouble politically. Aren't they?
No body wanna to live in a country whereby the laws are against your sexual lifestyle if GIVEN A CHANCE. Right? Whether the laws are being enforced or not does not make you feel totally safe to be gay. The UK courts have been awarded few asylum seekers not just due to their safety alone, I am sure there were other factors the courts had considered before the ruling. If just simple for safety reason, then all the applications would have been granted to stay. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee read the ruling for each application before you talk too much. That will show you are smart enough to understand how laws are being enforced and judgements are being made in courts.
It is vastly different to visit a country with crappy human rights laws than to live in that country and be subject to them.
Even if these laws were never enforced, the potential for them to be enforced is a real threat to a gay person's rights and peace of mind.
Just look at how these supposedly enforced anti-gay laws have been used in the high profile prosecution/smear campaign against Anwar the previous opposition leader. Case in point surely?
These asylum cases are good in that they serve to remind us all that there is ongoing persecution or a real threat of persecution that many gay men and women face in many supposedly modern countries like Malaysia and Singapore. As long as anti-gay/anti-human-rights laws are not changed, they continue to be a source of oppression.
And my comment #2 is not a comment about Malaysia being great for gay people.. If you take note, I was mentioning that it doesn't seem dangerous enough to use as a reason to seek asylum.. :)
As some Malaysians mentioned above... it could be worse!
It's also depends on individually how itself feels to live in their community and friends and family being treated.
As a gay man in Malaysia you probably won't get indicted just because you are gay. Only if someone wantted to indict that particular gay person for some reasons such as Minister Anwar being indicted for sodomy just purely politically strategy.
For those whoever got their Asylum status in foreign countries Congratulation. I hope to show your gratitute being an good example for others by proving you do the same for others. All the best.
It is common sense that many asian wish moving to western country with a so-called "america dream" for higher living standard/ income, society status (as above said, western people become and treated like king when they come to new country) even though they are doing fine in their original country, or some people just prefer open-minded values/environment in western compared with traditional values in eastern society. we all know it is very difficult to get a legal permanent residency in western country unless he/she is an elite or got huge investment there.
A few years ago, hundreds of Malaysians tore and gave up their passports/citizenship in the belief they could claim UK citizenship under a quirk of colonial law, but UK immigration laws tightened had ending their chance. Many of them rather to become illegal immigrant in UK than move back to malaysia.
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