Transsexuals: Respect Their Choice

http://www.malaysianmirror.com/nationaldetail/6-national/21685

Transsexuals: Respect Their Choice

Sunday, 06 December 2009 13:38

LETTER I think most of us aware of the predicament faced by the Malaysian transsexual who got married in UK. This is my take on the matter.

Well, I’m emotionally disturbed by the public response towards the marriage of Fatine Min Bahari with Ian Young.

Our Malaysian Immigration Department alleged that Fatine has overstayed in UK. If she is found guilty, Fatine will not be able to leave the country for two years.

This couple brings no harm to you personally nor the security of UK and Malaysia. They are not a threat to anyone. If we don’t want people to stop us from doing what we like and what is best for us, then why must we stop others from choosing what they like? It’s their individual right to choose their life partner.

Now we are causing them harm instead. Malaysia seems to be a threat to the couple. She is so afraid to return home because of the discrimination against people like her. Her act is unacceptable by the Malays, according to her. She might also be punished under the Syariah law for marrying a person with the same sex.

Their marriage may against Malaysian cultures and traditions but they should not become an obstacle for people on how they choose to live. Sometimes our norms, beliefs, cultures, and traditions ‘kill’ the goodness in us.

Some of them are not even relevant in today’s world. The world is evolving, we are moving forward and things changed. Don’t persecute people who are different from us. These people deserve the way of life they want to be and choose to live.

No one is born with the same personality. You may enjoy something that others don’t and vice versa. So respect others and don’t be selfish. We can’t expect others to be like us.

By wanting to be together, they don’t harm our environment, they don’t commit any crime, they don’t terrorize any country, they don’t make you lose your job, and they don’t kill, rob or smuggle drugs.

Human are different. That is a fact. Therefore, we must accept the differences among us. We should celebrate the differences in us and stay united in diversity.

Some people choose to stay single, some choose to marry with someone chosen by their parents, some people prefer inter-marriage, some people choose to have partner from the same gender, and to Fatine and Young, they chose the marriage that they want. They have every right to stay together.

So what if they are straight or not straight? So what if they are bixesual? So what if they are gay or lesbian? So what if they are transsexual? So what if they are pondan or tomboy? So what if they don’t have any feelings towards male or female? And so what if they date an animal.

You may be against it, but it’s their life. They just want to be happy together. And the rest of us owe it to them to grant them that happiness.

If it’s against their religion, let God judge and punish them, not us. God never say we can discriminate and condemn people who are different from us.

No matter what Fantine chooses, it’s her decision. She has already made up her mind. It’s her choice. This is what she wants. This is what makes her comfortable with. She’s happy with it. So we have to accept and respect it.

Accept the fact that she’s a woman now with the characteristics of a man. We can’t change her back to a man.

Malaysians must stop being ‘close-minded’. We must dare to accept changes, whether in our government, our education system, our lifestyles, our way of thinking, and other aspects in life.

This form of sexual discrimination is another major problem in Malaysia besides bureaucracy, racism, career opportunities, retrenchment, gender bias, corruption, exam-oriented education system, cronyism, freedom of expression, violation of human rights, crime, political instability etc.

These are the issues causing many Malaysians to work or migrate overseas and never want to come back.

We can certainly do with one problem less. Allow Fantine and her husband to be happy. Surely, that is not too much to ask.

Oh Chin Eng,
UTAR Journalism student
Penang

Live and Let Live, Respect Lifestyle Choices

http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/119037

Live and Let Live, Respect Lifestyle Choices

Oh Chin Eng

Dec 4, 09

5:58pm

I refer to the Malaysiakini report ''M'sian transsexual fighting deportation in UK to be punished''. I think most of us already know this news about the Malaysian transsexual that wants to get married in the UK. So this is what I got to say.

Well, I'm emotionally disturbed by the public's response towards the marriage of Fatine Min Baharin with Ian Young. Our Malaysian Immigration Department has alleged that Fatine has overstayed in the UK. If found guilty, she'll be barred from leaving this country for two years.

This couple haven't harmed you personally nor threatened the security of UK and Malaysia. They are not a threat to anyone. If we don't want people to stop us from doing what we like, then why stop others from doing what they like? Within limits, of course. In this case, it's their individual right to choose their own life partner.

Now we are hurting them for no reason. Now Malaysia seems to be a threat to this couple. She is so afraid to come back to Malaysia because of the discrimination and hatred for people like her. Her act is unacceptable by the Malays, according to her. She might also be caught under the Syariah law for marrying a person of the same sex.

Their marriage may seems to be against the norm of Malaysians but culture and tradition should not be a rule or obstacle for someone to live their life. Sometimes our norms, beliefs, cultures, and traditions can kill. Some of these are not even relevant to us in today's world.

The world is evolving, we are moving forward and things have changed. Don't hate people who are different then us. These people deserve the way of life they want to be. No one is born with the same personality. You may enjoy something that others don't and vice-versa. So respect others and don't be selfish.

We can't expect others to be like us. Anyway by being together, Fatine and Ian don't intend our harm our environment, they don't commit any crime, they's don't terrorise any countries, they don't make you lose your job, and neither do they intend to kill, rob, steal or smuggle drugs.

All humans are different. That is a fact. Therefore, we must accept the differences among us. We should celebrate the differences in us and stay united in our diversity.

Some people choose to stay single, some choose to get married to someone chosen by their parents, some people prefer to have inter-marriages, some people choose to have partners from the same gender and to Fatine and Young, they chose to marry one another.

They have every right in the world to stay together. So what if they are straight or not straight? So what if they are bisexual? So what if they are gay or lesbian? So what if they are transsexual?

So what if they are 'pengkid' or a tomboy? So what if they don't have any feelings towards other males or females? And so what if they date an animal?!

You might against it but it's their life so let them do what they want with it. After all, the world should be happy because they are happy.

If it's against their religions, let God judge and punish them, not us. God never said we could discriminate and condemn people who are different from us, right?

No matter what Fatine chooses, it's her decision. She has already made up her mind. It's her choice. This is what she wants. This is what makes her comfortable. She's happy with it. So just accept and respect it.

Accept the fact that she's a woman now with the characteristics of a man. We can't change her back to a man.

Malaysians must stop letting themselves be associated with the term 'close-minded'. We must dare to accept changes, whether in our government, our education system, our lifestyles, our way of thinking, and any other aspect of life.

This is one of the problems in Malaysia besides then issue of bureaucracy, racism, poor career opportunities, retrenchment, gender bias, corruption, an exam-oriented education system, cronyism, lack of freedom of expression, violation of human rights, crime, political instability etc.

These problems make our future generation want to work overseas and never want to come back. If the government is nice to its people, I believe, the people will be willing to die for their government. Treat others as you would like to be treated!

It's Fatine's Choice

Hohohoho. Read this people. Read this!! This is taken from thenutgraph.  

http://www.thenutgraph.com/its-fatines-choice

It’s Fatine’s Choice

4 Dec 09 : 4.27PM

By Oh Chin Eng

editor@thenutgraph.com

I'M emotionally disturbed by the public response towards the marriage of Fatine Min Baharin with Ian Young.

Our Malaysian Immigration Department has declared that Fatine overstayed in the United Kingdom. If found guilty, she'll be barred from leaving Malaysia for two years.

If we don't want people to stop us from doing what we like and what is best for us, then why must we stop others from choosing what they like? It's their individual right to choose their life partner.

This couple isn't harming you or me, nor are they a threat to the UK's and Malaysia's security. They are not a threat to anyone. By being together, they don't harm our environment, they are not committing any crime against others, they are not terrorising any country, they don't make you lose your job, and they don't kill, rob, steal, or smuggle drugs.

We are harming them. Now, Malaysia seems to be a threat to the couple. Fatine is so afraid to come back to Malaysia because of the discrimination and hatred towards people like her. She may also be caught under syariah law for marrying a person of the same sex.

Their marriage may seem to be against the norm of Malaysians but culture and tradition should not be obstacles for someone to live their lives. Sometimes our norms, beliefs, cultures, and traditions kill. Some of these are not even relevant to us in today's world.

We should not discriminate against people who are different from us. These people deserve the way of life they want for themselves. We can't expect others to be like us or to follow our choices.

Some people choose to stay single, some choose to marry someone picked by their parents, some prefer to have intermarriage, some people choose to have a partner of the same gender. Fatine and Young chose the marriage that they want. And they have every right in the world to stay together.

So what if they are straight or otherwise? So what if they are bi-sexual? So what if they are gay or lesbian? So what if they are transsexual? So what if they are pengkid, pondan or tomboy?

If it's against their religion, let God judge and punish them, not us. God never said we can discriminate and condemn people who are different from us, right?

No matter what Fatine choses, it's her decision. She has already made up her mind. It's her choice. This is what she wants. This is what makes her comfortable. She's happy with it. Why can't we just accept and respect it?

Oh Chin Eng
Penang
4 Dec 2009

Respect Their Choice

I think most of us already know the news about the Malaysian transsexual that got married in UK. So this is what I got to say. It’s just my opinion. If you don’t agree, don’t make a fuss about it. Respect freedom of expression. Tq.

Well, im emotionally disturbed by the public response towards the marriage of Fatine Min Baharin with Ian Young.

Our Malaysian Immigration Department alleged that Fatine has overstayed in UK. If found guilty, she’ll be barred from leaving this country for 2 years.

This couple don’t give harm to you personally nor the security of UK and Malaysia. They are not a threat to anyone. If you don’t want people to stop you from doing what you like and what is the best for you, then why you stop others from choosing what they like? It’s their individual right to choose their life partner.

Now we are harming them. now Malaysia seems to be threat to the couple. She is so afraid to come back to Malaysia because of the discrimination and hatred to people like her. Her act is unacceptable by the Malays, according to her. she might also be caught under the Syariah law for marrying a person with the same sex.

Aih.. stay in Malaysia, got problem. Now she left to UK also got problem.

Their marriage may seems to be against the norm of the Malaysians but culture and tradition is not a rule or obstacle for someone to live their lives. Sometimes our norms, beliefs, cultures, and traditions kill. Some of these are not even relevant to us in today’s world. The world is evolving, we are moving forward and things changed. Don’t anti people who are different then us. These people deserve the way of life they want to be. No one is born with the same personality. U may enjoy something that others don’t and vice versa. So respect others and don’t be selfish.

We can’t expect others to be like us.

By being together, they don’t harm our environment, they don’t commit any crime, they’s don’t terrorize any countries, they don’t make you loose your job, and they don’t kill, rob, steal or smuggle drugs.

Human are different. That is a fact. Therefore, we must accept the differences among us. We should celebrate the differences in us and stay united in diversity.

Some people choose to stay single, some choose to married with someone that chosen by their parents, some people prefer to have inter-marriage, some people choose to have partner from the same gender, and to Fatine and Young, they chose the marriage that they want. They have every rights in the world to stay together.

So what if they are straight or not straight? So what if they are bixesual? So what if they are gay or lesbian? So what if they are transsexual? So what if they are pengkid, pondan or tomboy? So what if they don’t have any feelings towards male or female? And so what if they date an animal??!

SO WHAT!!

You might against it, but it’s their life, let they do what they want with it. Afterall, the world should be happy because they are happy.

If it’s against their religions, let God jugde and punish them, not us. God never say we can discriminate and condemn people who are different from us, right?

No matter what she chose, it’s her decision. She has already made up her mind. it’s her choice. This is what she wants. This is what makes her comfortable with. She’s happy with it. so we just accept and respect it.

Accept the fact that she’s now a woman with the characteristics of a woman. We can’t change her back to a man.

No wonder Malaysians always associated with the term ‘close-minded’. We must dare to accept changes, whether in our government, our education system, our lifestyles, our way of thinking, and any aspects in life.

This is one of the problems in Malaysia besides then issue of birocracy, racism, career opportunities, retrenchment, gender bias, corruption, exam oriented education system, cronism, freedom of expression, violation of human rights, crime, political instability, gender bias etc etc.

These problems make our future generation to work in overseas and never want to come back.

If the government is nice to its people, I believe, the people will be willing to die with its government.

Treat others as you would like to be treated!

Thank you.

Transsexual Worries for Safety After Negative Reaction to 'Marriage'

Controversial ‘marriage’: Mohammed Fazdil or Fatine and Young posing for a photo after they were married in a civil partnership in the UK last May.

LONDON: Malaysian transsexual Mohammed Fazdil Min Bahari is afraid to return home due to the negative reactions over her marriage to a Briton.

She has received a lot of negative e-mails and comments from people, some even accusing her of insulting the Malaysian government.

Mohammed Fazdil or Fatine, said she felt frustrated that people did not understand she had come to the United Kingdom because she wanted to be with the man she loved.

She added that she could not do that in Malaysia and people in the country seemed to be taking a religious point of view over the matter.

“I am so frightened to go back. I am worried for my safety,” she said in response to what she claimed was the inaccurate portrayal of their love story by a Malay tabloid which caused the negative reactions.

Speaking up for the first time after The Sun newspaper in London broke the story, Fatine said she did not know what to do as her family had already disowned her.

“I’ve spent hours on the phone asking for forgiveness. I love them but I can’t change what has happened,” said the 36-year-old makeup artist.

Fatine said it was a shame that the article had twisted their story as it was never their intention to insult the Malay community.

“They also put my father’s name in it, which was unnecessary and my mother is now afraid to leave the house,” she added.

Fatine also said that she understood that the Malays were very traditional and that “people like me aren’t acceptable”, but she hoped things would cool down eventually.

Fatine, who married Ian Young in a civil partnership in May, faces deportation back to Malaysia after her Leave to Remain visa was rejected by the Home Office over an “incorrect” photograph.

A second application with a passport photograph with a white background as required, instead of blue, was submitted for reconsideration but it was also thrown out in October.

The pair has just submitted their third application for a Right to Family Life under the Human Rights Act in Britain.

On Monday, Immigration director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman said the department might take action against Fatine when she returned home as it viewed problems like overstaying seriously.

Young, 30, however, maintained that Fatine’s application was still being processed by the UK Border Agency and she should not be classified as an overstayer.

“All we want is to be married, happy and living together.

“The only way we can do this is over here in the UK,” said Young, who runs a property maintenance company.

He said the article also made it sound like they were trying to make a mockery of Muslim laws, which was never their intention.

“As a result of the way we have been portrayed, I now feel that we would be in more danger than ever if we were to try and live in Malaysia,” he added.

~ news taken from Choi Tuck Wo, The Star, Malaysia

~ http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/3/nation/5227020&sec=nation