around 10,00019. Meanwhile, according to a privately-sponsor survey in 2001,
there were at least 50,000 transsexuals in the country.20
22.
Since many research are focused on trans woman and not trans man, there is a
lack of information on trans man. The discrimination against trans woman and
trans man is also seen to be different, since trans man have chosen to remain
in hiding, there is limited record of the trans man experience in Malaysia. In
contrary, trans women are more visible, organised and vocal since among they
received more peer support and advocacy group among the trans women
community which provide support to transgender individual are more prevalent.
The relation between Transgender and Gender Dysphoria
23.
The condition of transgender has always been linked with gender identity
disorder. This medical condition of transgender persons was discussed in
Malaysia in the case of Muhamad Juzaili Bin Mohd Khamis & Ors v State
Government of Negeri Sembilan & Ors21 where gender identity disorders were
characterized by strong and persistent cross gender identification accompanied
by persistent discomfort with one’s assigned sex.22 The decision of the case
will be discussed later. However for the purpose of removing stigma, gender
identity disorder is now reclassified as gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria
is described by the American Psychiatric Association in its 5th edition of the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as:
“People whose gender at birth is contrary to the one they identity with will be diagnosed
with gender dysphoria. For a person to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria, there must be
a marked difference between the individual’s expressed/experienced gender and the gender
others would assign him or her, and it must continue for at least six months. In children,
the desire to be of the other gender must be present and verbalised. This condition causes
clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas
of functioning.
Gender dysphoria “is manifested in a variety of ways, including strong desires to be treated
as the other gender or to be rid of one’s sex characteristics, or a strong conviction that one has
feelings and reactions typical of the other gender.”
19 Teh Yik Koon, The Mak Nyahs: Malaysian Male to Female Transsexuals. Eastern University Press,
2002. P. 53
20 Wong Ee Lynn, Neither Here Nor There: the Legal Dilemma of the Transsexual Community in Malaysia. Accessed via http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/gender_issues/neither_here_nor_there_the_legal_dilemma_of_the_transsexual_community_in_malaysia.html, 1 February 2005 (accessed on 19
November 2015)
21 [2015]MLJ 65
22 Ibid
14
| Report On Transgender Persons In KL And Selangor