A case of he/she and not much help

[Butterfly]

A case of he/she and not much help
The Star Online
By NIZAM BASHIR
24 December, 2009


http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2009/12/24/columnists/putiklada/5359614&sec=putiklada


Should Malaysia reconsider its approach and accord more latitude to Muslim transsexuals? A Muslim country like Iran has done so – but such a move here will lead to another host of questions.

WHEN an Islamic hardliner like Zulkifli Noordin says that "we should help" Fatine, it is certainly time to sit up and pay careful attention to what is being said.

No doubt, "help" is being offered, but the offer is only on the table if Fatine is a hermaphrodite or an inter-sexed person that is to say someone born with physically ambiguous sexual characteristics ("hermaphrodite"). In all other instances, Fatine is on "his" own.