21-8-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Carmen Rose, a veteran drag queen artist, used to be a regular performer in Malaysia. However, her career took a drastic turn after a police raid last year, causing her to halt her shows and leading to heightened fears within the LGBTQ community. This comes at a time when Islamist influence in Malaysian politics is growing.
Since the raid, during which several party-goers were arrested, Rose has refrained from performing and seldom appears in public in her drag persona. “It’s always a risk going out in drag. If there was a raid, who do we call? Do we bring our boy clothes just in case?” said Rose, who chose not to reveal her non-drag identity out of fear of reprisal. “They see us as sexual deviants or sinners.”
Despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s reputation as a progressive reformer, queer Malaysians and rights organizations informed Reuters that LGBTQ communities are facing increased scrutiny and discrimination under his government.
Analysts argue that Anwar, who assumed office after a general election in November, is under pressure to bolster his Islamic credentials among the Muslim majority in response to a growing ultra-conservative opposition that has been gaining political ground. Malaysia’s opposition bloc includes the Islamist party PAS, which advocates a strict interpretation of sharia law and opposes LGBTQ rights. The party now holds the most parliamentary seats it has ever had, and its recent gains in state elections have reinforced its political influence.
A PAS lawmaker recently stated that LGBTQ individuals should be classified as “mentally ill.” Another PAS leader urged the government to cancel a Coldplay concert because the band supports LGBTQ rights.
“Anwar doesn’t feel politically stable, so he has to be more Islamic than the other side,” said James Chin, a political analyst at the University of Tasmania in Australia.
Sodomy is a criminal offense in Malaysia, and the country also has Islamic sharia laws that prohibit same-sex acts and cross-dressing. Malaysia, a multi-ethnic, multi-faith nation, maintains a dual-track legal system, with Islamic laws for Muslims running alongside civil laws.
While Anwar has never publicly supported the LGBTQ community, activists had hoped he would display more tolerance, given his advocacy for an inclusive society during his 25 years in opposition.
Dhia Rezki Rohaizad, deputy president of JEJAKA, an organization supporting gay, bisexual, and queer men, expressed disappointment, saying, “It’s disappointing that it has not happened. At the very least, we had hoped that they would just leave us alone, not be actively persecuting us.”
Under Anwar’s government, books “promoting the LGBT lifestyle” have been banned, demonstrators expressing support for LGBTQ rights have been detained, and Pride-themed watches by Swiss watchmaker Swatch were confiscated. Last month, authorities canceled a music festival after the lead singer of the British pop band The 1975 kissed a male bandmate onstage and criticized Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ laws.
When asked about the government’s stance on LGBTQ rights, government spokesperson and communications minister Fahmi Fadzil stated, “Whatever the prime minister has said is the position.”
Some analysts suggest that Anwar’s unwavering stance on LGBTQ rights may be an attempt to dispel doubts about his own sexuality that arose after he was imprisoned for nearly a decade for sodomy. Anwar has consistently maintained that the charges were fabricated and politically motivated, but some political opponents continue to question his Islamic values.
Activists report rampant online harassment and death threats against LGBTQ Malaysians on social media platforms. Undercover police officers often attend LGBTQ-friendly events, prompting many groups to have lawyers present in case of a raid.
Thilaga Sulathireh, founder of the LGBTQ advocacy group Justice for Sisters, characterized the government’s rejection of LGBTQ Malaysians as a human rights violation. “This has emboldened the conservatives and the right wing, it allows discrimination and violence to take place against LGBT people with impunity,” said Sulathireh.
Justice for Sisters is receiving more inquiries from LGBTQ Malaysians seeking asylum in other countries. Additionally, the community is increasingly adopting self-censorship to remain under the radar.
Carmen Rose, the drag queen, disclosed that she canceled a show this year out of fear of another crackdown. She occasionally performs in neighboring Singapore and is now considering leaving Malaysia, stating, “This is not me running away. I’m just tired and I have to also think about myself and my own happiness.”
