JAKIM Will Take A Month To Verify This Lady's Gender & People Can't Stop Talking About It
There are supporters on both sides of the story.
By Jia Vern Tham — 23 Jan 2018, 01:38 PM
Recently, popular cosmetics entrepreneur Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman was accused of being a transgender by blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo
Nur Sajat is the founder of Jangan Mengata (JM) cosmetics brand and Let's Cantik clothing line. Products in the JM brand include soap bars and facial serums.
In a Facebook video, Papagomo contacted Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir and claimed that Nur Sajat is a transgender woman.
Within a day after the video was posted on Facebook, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) announced that it was willing to meet with Nur Sajat over the issue. In an open letter, JAKIM's family, social, and community development division deputy director Dr Izwan Khusus invited her for a meet up.
Days later, Dr Izwan announced through his Facebook profile that JAKIM will be taking a month to verify Nur Sajat's gender. He also strongly denied Papagomo's claim that JAKIM has contacted him and verified that Nur Sajat is in fact, a male.
Since then, netizens have been preoccupied with Nur Sajat's gender probe by JAKIM
She even released a statement on Facebook expressing her exhaustion with the public's fascination with the issue, asking if she is the country's biggest problem right now.
Campaign for Equality and Human Rights Initiative (PELANGI Campaign) expressed their concern over the increase in abuse, harassment, and misgendering of Nur Sajat
In an interview with SAYS, a representative of the campaign argued that gender should be personal and based on self-determination.
"(JAKIM's) month-long investigation on her gender is absurd and a misuse of tax payers' money," the representative said.
In an interview with Malay Mail Online, activist Nisha Ayub also called on authorities to take action against hateful commenters.
Nisha said that Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, the blogger who accused Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman of being transgender, needs to be brought in for questioning.
She also said allowing such hate speech "was tantamount to cyberbullying", as reported by Malay Mail Online.