NETIZENS have come out in droves to express disgust at TV3 for allowing transvestites or cross-dressers to appear during its 39th edition of its Anugerah Juara Lagu (#39AJL) award showcase at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur on Sunday evening (Feb 16).
Leading the chorus was the Selangor State Youth, Sports & Entrepreneurship EXCO Najwan Halimi (@NajwanHalimi) who wondered if Malaysia’s premier private TV station “is trying to normalise the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) culture in the society through #AJL39?”
“Rude and disgusting. I advise @tv3malaysia against becoming an enabler of this mutasyabbih (literally “ambiguous” or “unclear” in Arabic) group,” the PKR Kota Anggerik state assemblyman hit out on the X platform.
Biadab dan memualkan!
Saya nasihatkan @tv3malaysia jangan jadi enabler golongan mutasyabbih ini.
Apakah TV3 menerusi #AJL39 cuba untuk menormalisasikan budaya LGBT di kalangan masyarakat?
Tak sewajarnya insiden sebegini berlaku dalam majlis anugerah seni yang secara tradisi… https://t.co/nYq7kt6zua
— Najwan Halimi (@NajwanHalimi) February 17, 2025
“It’s not appropriate for such an incident to occur at an artistic awards ceremony that has traditionally been organised for the past 40 years to celebrate the best works among the country’s composers and lyricists.”
This has led to JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) condemning the featuring of the “transvestites” while stating that it will engage with the individuals who dressed as women as well as the event organiser “in a close door session to render advice and guidance”.
“JAKIM has since contacted and extended the matter to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) which is responsible for regulating the communications and multimedia industry based on existing law,” JAKIM director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee pointed out in a media statement.
“Indeed, Islam is a religion of mercy and accommodates human nature that desires entertainment. In fact, entertainment is also one of the elements that leads to joy, well-being and fosters noble values.
“However, it’s necessary to limit entertainment with etiquette so that it doesn’t conflict with Islamic faith, syariah and morality.”
Earlier, opposition-slant blogger Ratu Naga has teased the presence of four deemed “transvestites” at the event while claiming that “the one in blue veil looks like Papanon (negative moniker for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) at a glance”.
Her social media post has in fact triggered her fanbase to criticise the lax of enforcement by the Madani government to curtail the spread of LBGT elements till they have become a norm in the Malay Muslim society. – Feb 18, 2025
