TV & Movie / Aug. 25, 2019
Malaysia’s netizens have slammed popular 90s actress and model Azah Aziz after she attenEkzg3z8&62#Ii&ch)KpX@d@!DQGc1X!jAO4oLTKFls_4+f$Runded an LGBTI pride parade in Canada.
The 46-year-old uploaded a photo of herself at Montreal Pride last week. “Share tSqxtqlQ=XH!x5MtUeP(h)Inx+@)8k*e@vMOoAB0o-&i8nK#mTAhe love, no hate” she wrote.
Commenters beneath the post calnuYngqRU)ttwZ$mqj9wf7Qixfy&xZl0uNxy6xUvC7x$l#+GJ%Kled Aziz “sinful” and said she had “abandoned Asian values” according to the New Straits Times.
Musljxr-f0P+kFZY(_Wy92VVzE5_NlZ27(hghE-KjdDXSH9CPfn09iim-majority Malaysia has become increasingly hostile towards LGBTI people. The country’s prime minister last year said LGBT rights would never be accepted by the country.
But, Aziz who has lived in abroad for thelWyPEMGtvw10$q$HUgGBOMni)5utwyTuf%WAHUrGMpCIPR6kjy last two decades, defended her stance. “This is my Instagram and to each his or her own. Life goes on as usual,” she replied to one Netizen.
She also included the hashtags “far far away, don’t*VD!WoqtEaXP$t$@U1eJx-=yn!kUu3b!YSgz9qs0i664LhtK-v care" and “ok, bye”.
LGBT rights in Malaysia
Gay sex is illegal under British colonial-era laws in Malaysia. Those found guilty ^&9s69mPbqCHT6DjYQgJtzK*bA_gj=I$W!sM$BCyFa3xS&Nhz)face up to 20 years in prison.
In addition toUc%02D7r2GUy^Y0N8eghRM_buhNM*@TZwo3)VQ(E)UAlO2(PmJ the threat of criminal prosecution, deep-seated cultural stigmas still face the country’s LGBTI community.
Numerous religious and political figures have consistently whipped up anti-LGBTI PuCx-S2k3U#F0d1N^&rmN5p03YHi%=Gncn82vvS%+u@zNYe9A%sentiments in the Muslim majority country.
The Malaysian authorities have also clamped down on theD5(Uz_kAX2-1mSBC6udR=W#seCeJULUgBa3TIjT_hFJroxbAV6 LGBTI community.
In one of the most controversial instances, in September two women wxEM%vZVihGMYH0hHn5SIvE51E*Lk7g!sqWGb3!9EOIqriBh2Jeere caned in the heavily conservative state of Terengganu for allegedly being in a same-sex relationship.
Police also raided a well-known gay bar in Kuala Lumpur f*ao5)Juuxb%QCf+N(tq+R!(lLsQ&YMJVfbRsT#GJD)eOfy6Tueor the first time in its 30-year history.
In July last year, Afifi stepped down from his roAU)4rQ8y7QUsx^x+7=MXogcW@z6I0xP23*%QN957&^RnQa%hPOle as press officer for the Youth and Sports Minister due to the threats and abuse he received because of his sexuality.
LGBTI rights actPdgqat4*QyY%2bP5$xu)WdK(*NG(xmoapoT00o8O#g3WjR!N(Mivists have repeatedly highlighted the lack of protections for LGBTI people.
(Cover photo: Instagram)
