1,730 LGBT people sent to rehabilitation camp this year

[Jay]

Fresh from my country, Malaysia.

1,730 LGBT people sent to Jakim rehabilitation camp this year

As of June this year, 1,733 members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community have been sent to a rehabilitation camp run by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), the prime minister said in a parliamentary written reply. Mukhayyam is a govt initiative to get non-heterosexuals to change their lifestyle, sexual orientation.

https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/339381

Sorry, unfortunately I'm not able to extract the full article. I have to subscribe if I want to read the full news.

Anyway my only comment - this coming from a country that still allows under age marriage. 

I'm doing fine. I am out but I don't scream at the top of my lungs telling everyone that I'm gay. I was supposed to be transferred to Panama in 2019 for work by my boss. It was a baby step to get me out from Malaysia and also because I speak a little Spanish. But Covid happened and my boss resigned (She joined WHO).

[InbetweenDreams]

That makes me sad, between the hypocrisy, suffering and that is deemed acceptable by anyone. @Jay do you think there's any chance of being transferred in the future despite your boss's departure?

[ChadCoxRox]

It's getting more and more difficult to wrap the mind around this still happening. Hugs and love from your virtual family!

[Jay]

That makes me sad, between the hypocrisy, suffering and that is deemed acceptable by anyone. @Jay do you think there's any chance of being transferred in the future despite your boss's departure?

My country is a little strange. It could have been great as Singapore but fell short due to few things. Oh by the way, Singapore and Malaysia used to be one country.

Malaysia was built as a secular country but with Islam as the official religion. As time goes by, Islam gets stronger and there are lot of parties that keen to 'arabicize' the people and the country. Basically, we're trying to be more Islamic than the Arab people themselves. 

My issue is that if your nationality is a Malay, which I am, you are automatically registered as a Muslim and there is no way out. My country doesn't allow a Malay Muslim to leave the religion. There have been few cases where a few tried. One person brought it to court and it brought a lot of rage to the Muslim people. If I remember correctly, there was a protest/riot in front of the court when the court hearing happened. Of course, the request was rejected. In Malaysia, Muslims have no issue to brag and to convert non-Muslims but not the other way around. Hell will break loose. 

Political parties especially PAS (extreme religious party) use Islam to bait Malays. There are businesses that use Islam to lure Malays to buy their products/services - "Buy our product because it's Islamic compliant etc." So basically, we're good in brainwashing people to Arabicizing the country.

I'm not saying my country is a total disaster. It's a good place to live in especially if you follow the rules. If you embrace Islam and additionally, do not argue and bring up anything related to Malay Supremacy, you're good. Malay Supremacy is similar to White Supremacy. But it's another different subject that gives me headache. 

I believe there is a chance to be transferred in the future. But not anytime soon due to Covid. My new boss is as good as the previous and we did have a discussion on how to develop my career. One is through Exchange Officers Program (Example: Panama officer and Malaysia officer will trade place for a a certain duration). So fingers crossed.

[Jay]

It's getting more and more difficult to wrap the mind around this still happening. Hugs and love from your virtual family!

And because of this, there are gay guys especially the Malay Muslims that decided to marry women to camouflage themselves.

Basically to end people wondering why you are still single and not married - you find a woman despite being gay, marry her, have a kid or not a kid (optional) and divorce afterward. This is just to fulfil the quota that you are married therefore people will stop questioning your sexuality. Of course, there are men that remain married but have affair with other men behind their wives. 

It's a no win especially to the unlucky women and kids. 

Thanks for the hugs and love @ChadCoxRox

[Cridders88]

A part of what you said really gripped me @Jay, a country that allows underage marriage behaves like this towards homosexual people. It's vile.

I really hope you can escape sometime soon. Keep trying, please.

Again, religion causing more problems than it solves.

[Jay]

A part of what you said really gripped me @Jay, a country that allows underage marriage behaves like this towards homosexual people. It's vile.

I really hope you can escape sometime soon. Keep trying, please.

Again, religion causing more problems than it solves.

Crazy, right? They can bend rules, law and religion for their own comfort. Few years back, there was a 40ish guy married an underage girl (14, I think?). It was all over the news. If I remember correctly, his reason to marry the girl was to help and support the girl and her parents because they are poor.

But two guys holding hands? Nope. Hell to both. 

I think migrating shouldn't be a problem as long as you are solid financially. My finance is good but not at the level where I can migrate tomorrow or in another year or two. So transferring via my work is the best idea. My ex colleague, who's also a Malay Muslim has migrated to United States a few years back to be with his partner. I can consider him to be lucky as he comes from a very rich and liberal family. His parents even though Muslims are supportive with his sexual orientation and have met his partner a few times. His big brother is also gay. But his big brother lives in Malaysia. I'm not so sure about his other two brothers. 

Fingers crossed.

[InbetweenDreams]

Crazy, right? They can bend rules, law and religion for their own comfort. Few years back, there was a 40ish guy married an underage girl (14, I think?). It was all over the news. If I remember correctly, his reason to marry the girl was to help and support the girl and her parents because they are poor.

But two guys holding hands? Nope. Hell to both. 

Exactly and people do that in every religion, although I'd say Christians would very much object to the guy marrying an underage girl but you know what I'm getting at.

I think migrating shouldn't be a problem as long as you are solid financially. My finance is good but not at the level where I can migrate tomorrow or in another year or two. So transferring via my work is the best idea. My ex colleague, who's also a Malay Muslim has migrated to United States a few years back to be with his partner. I can consider him to be lucky as he comes from a very rich and liberal family. His parents even though Muslims are supportive with his sexual orientation and have met his partner a few times. His big brother is also gay. But his big brother lives in Malaysia. I'm not so sure about his other two brothers. 

Fingers crossed.

I wholeheartedly believe that if you want to migrate to another country, whether it is the US or somewhere else that you can do it. There are work visas and all that sort of stuff, not sure what kind of work you do but any marketable skills that might be in demand are a plus in many countries. Definitely do your research and feel free to ask questions, while I don't know much about the immigration process I'm certainly willing to help find answers. It is an expensive process but hopefully one that pays off in the end.

[Jay]

Crazy, right? They can bend rules, law and religion for their own comfort. Few years back, there was a 40ish guy married an underage girl (14, I think?). It was all over the news. If I remember correctly, his reason to marry the girl was to help and support the girl and her parents because they are poor.

But two guys holding hands? Nope. Hell to both. 

Exactly and people do that in every religion, although I'd say Christians would very much object to the guy marrying an underage girl but you know what I'm getting at.

I think migrating shouldn't be a problem as long as you are solid financially. My finance is good but not at the level where I can migrate tomorrow or in another year or two. So transferring via my work is the best idea. My ex colleague, who's also a Malay Muslim has migrated to United States a few years back to be with his partner. I can consider him to be lucky as he comes from a very rich and liberal family. His parents even though Muslims are supportive with his sexual orientation and have met his partner a few times. His big brother is also gay. But his big brother lives in Malaysia. I'm not so sure about his other two brothers. 

Fingers crossed.

I wholeheartedly believe that if you want to migrate to another country, whether it is the US or somewhere else that you can do it. There are work visas and all that sort of stuff, not sure what kind of work you do but any marketable skills that might be in demand are a plus in many countries. Definitely do your research and feel free to ask questions, while I don't know much about the immigration process I'm certainly willing to help find answers. It is an expensive process but hopefully one that pays off in the end.

I work as an officer in a humanitarian organisation (Don't want to be specific but along the line with WHO, Unicef, UN those kind of organisations). It's quite common for officers in the organisation to be transferred to other countries for several years - As long as there is an opening to work in other country offices. So hopefully work visa would be my ticket. If I do not have the opportunity to migrate outside of South East Asia, I still have Thailand. Thailand is pro LGBT. 

I will definitely do my research. I really appreciate that you are willing to give me a hand., Mike. I will keep in mind and will ask if I have a question or two about the immigration process etc. Thanks again!