Carolyn Khor's blog

From left: Ms Chinta, ASP Riza, YB Lee Khai Loon, YB Teh Yee Cheu, Zulfakri, Ustaz Khairol TG Symposium: Arrest and Detention Transgenders fear harassment during arrest and detention, and a symposium organised by the Transgender Committee set up by the State Assembly of Penang brought both transgenders and the authorities together to discuss the situation. Also involved in the organising of this event was Justice for Sisters, SUARAM Penang and PACA. Documented stories of how transgenders are being mistreated and ostracised by the authorities are plenty, and there should be policies and guidelines to resolve this issue. State Assemblyman for Tanjong Bunga, YB Teh Yee Cheu requested that the authorities invite a transgender to be present during body checks, to which the police replied that the suggestion will be forwarded to her superiors. According to the Assistant Superintendant Rizatulmi Haizaran Binti Samat from the police forces’ sexual harassment department, f...

A time to understand human rights: Human Rights Day on 10 Dec Malaysia is still rated fairly free despite fall in Human Development Index ranking. Reuters The existence of a Human Rights Day ironically translates into an apparent lack of human rights in the world, even with laws which are supposedly meant to protect the innocent. In 1950, the United Nations General Assembly declared 10 December as Human Rights Day. It has been twenty years since 1993, when a mandate of High Commissioner was created for the promotion and protection of all human rights during the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna the same year. Furthermore, Women’s Rights are now acknowledged as a fundamental human right. Discrimination and acts of violence against women are at the forefront of the human rights discourse. Human rights cover a wide range of issues including access to basic necessities, equality, life and the right to tell the truth. In the Universal Declaration of H...

Link to MSN news Seen as yet another first for Penang and perhaps Malaysia, a transgender has been engaged to assist Teh Yee Cheu oversee the transgender community’s welfare, after the proposal was tabled and approved in the State Assembly last week. Teh who is the Tanjung Bungah representative, heads the panel with the support of both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan National representatives, including State opposition leader, Jahara Hamid. The committee, set to be formed within two months, aims to collect data and alleviate the status and social stigma associated with the transgender community. The committee plans to also conduct forums and spread public awareness on the issue. “…they have rights over their bodies, and have a right to decide what gender they are most comfortable with,” said Teh. At a press conference today (10/7/13), Teh, who proudly claims to walk the talk, announced that he had engaged transgender Hazreen Shaik Daud as his political secreta...

KENYATAAN AKHBAR KONGRES MELAYU PULAU PINANG, (KMPP) DEMONSTRASI JALANAN - KMPP KECAM TINDAKAN EZAM MOHD NOOR KMPP mengencam tindakan Mohamed Ezam Mohamed Noor yang menjadi dalang utama dalam demonstrasi. Seperti mana yang dilaporkan oleh beberapa media cetak dan elektronik tempatan di mana Dato Musa Shaikh Fadzir yang juga Timbalan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Pulau Pinang dan merangkap Ketua UMNO Bahagian Bukit Mertajam telah mengkritik secara terbuka Pentadbiran UDA Holdings Berhad yang kononnya akan melantik kontraktor dari luar Negara serta mengabaikan kontraktor tempatan untuk memajukan projek gergasi iaitu Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) yang mana dianggarkan melebihi 6 billion Ringgit. Beliau juga mensarankan supaya operasi UDA Holdings Berhad ditutup. Akibat daripada kenyataan beliau ini telah menyebabkan hampir 1,400 orang kakitangan Syarikat milik kerajaan pusat ini berada di dalam situasi panik. Pihak KMPP memandang serius kenyataan beliau. Jangan pandai membuat ...

S.Arutchelvan, the Secretary-General of Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) was at Penang High Court 3 today. An application was made for a judicial revision to the seven days remand. The decision will be announced tomorrow. Thirty PSM members were detained on 25th June under Section 122 of the Penal Code for allegedly waging a war against the Agong. Among those arrested were the elderly, women, two seventeen year old students, a teacher and an MP.