They say that the attacks & # 39; gross violations & # 39; are the rights of the group to enjoy the same freedoms as any other citizen.

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh.

PETALING JAYA: Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh and lawyer Syahredzan Johan have called for an immediate halt of verbal and physical attacks on the transgender community, following reports from a transgender woman who was attacked by a group of men in Negeri Sembilan last week .

Syahredzan Johan.

In a joint statement they said that they had visited the victim at the Tuanku Jaafar hospital in Seremban, where they learned that they had suffered internal damage, several broken ribs. and injuries to her back and head requiring 12 stitches.

"This is not an isolated incident," they said. "The transgender community has long been the target of attacks and intimidation across the country."

In some cases, they said, the attacks had caused serious injuries and even death.

They said that most of the time, the perpetrators were not tried, either because of the fear of repercussions on the part of the victims, or because the authorities were reluctant to take further action.

"We believe that the deliberate disregard for the lives of the transgender community is the result of the constant demonization of the community by certain quarters.

" The hateful speeches directed at the transgender community reduce their humanity in the eyes of society and have made it easier for them to become targets.

"The physical and verbal attacks of transgender people must be stopped, they are gross violations of the human rights of members of the transgender community, who should also enjoy the same fundamental freedoms as any other citizen of this country," they said.

The Galen Center for Health and Social Policy supported the call for urgent action to address the "demonization" of the transgender community, saying that it had led to the perpetrators unpunished and transgender persons who lived in fear.

Azrul Mohd Khalib

Galen president Azrul Mohd Khalib said that everyone had equal rights to the rights and protection provided by Malaysian law.

"That includes being able to walk around without being afraid of being beaten up or being subjected to physical and mental damage.

" There is no justification for such violence on any other person, "he said today in

He warned that discrimination based on gender identity and transgender status might discourage people from receiving attention and care, adding that those identified as lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) might have problems with finding alternative health care if they were rejected

"Sexual minorities, in particular transgender people, are faced with enormous discrimination and social exclusion stigma that hampers and hinders their access to and complications for their health care and treatment needs.

"Discrimination and social stigmatization will result in increased incidence of abuse, harassment or service being refused," he said.