Fridae

Goldman Sachs, HSBC, JPMorgan and nine other investment banks have declined to sign petition with 1,400 public signatures demanding government amend immigration policy to give same-sex spouses equal rights to straight counterparts.

The pair, who were travelling from from Bangkok, were told by immigration officers that they did not satisfy the purpose of their trip.

Gay couples and those seeking political asylum make up the 180 Malaysians who have sought asylum in the United Kingdom since 2005.

Originally scheduled to board a flight to Indonesia on Feb 14, Anton Tanumihardja's deportation has been delayed until a decision is made by the Board of Immigration Appeals.

In what has been described a "rare" case, Malaysia's New Straits Times reported that a 38-year-old Malaysian transsexual was recently given refugee status in Australia as only 12 transsexuals were given asylum in Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada between 1994 and 2008.

The New Straits Times's Audrey Vijaindren asks if Malaysian society lacks compassion and kindness towards transgenders as the media reports on Fatine Young, a Malaysian transsexual who faces deportation (and possibly jail) to Malaysia for overstaying in Britain with her husband.