Those who have undergone a sex change operation should be allowed to list their gender as female in their identity cards, said university lecturer Dr Teh Yik Koon.

Presenting her research findings at a recent conference, she said this could prevent discrimination against transsexuals as well as problems associated with their practical day-to-day needs.

Teh, who is attached to Universiti Utara Malaysia, based her findings on a study in 2000 that involved 507 male-to-female transsexuals, known as mak nyah in Malaysia.

Without being able to change their gender in identity cards, they are unable to purchase health insurance, get bank loans to purchase houses or legally adopt children.

"They also face problems during immigration checks because they look female, but their documentation states that they are males," said Teh, a London-trained criminologist.

Only non-Muslims are allowed to undergo sex change operations in Malaysia. Muslims have been prohibited from doing so since 1983, when the Council of Rulers endorsed a fatwa (religious decree) against such operations, except for hermaphrodites.

Teh, when contacted later, said all transsexuals had been allowed to change their gender in the identity card prior to 1983.

"Since then, however, they can have their name changed to a female name, but have to retain their male name as an alias as well as their male gender," she explained in reference to the policy for non-Muslims.

Capabilities limited

Of the respondents in the survey, 74 percent had secondary education but only three percent had attended an institute of higher learning.

The majority (73 percent) had an income of less than RM1,000 per month, while the rest lived below or around the poverty line of RM500.

"The community experiences high levels of discrimination, which limit their ability to acquire well-paid jobs. This contributes to their relative impoverishment," she said.

Their lack of education has also prevented them from fighting for their rights to be recognised and to find ways of overcoming their problems.

In the 1980s, some had tried to register as a legal group to form a platform for their rights, but their application was rejected by the Registrar of Societies, Teh said.

Her research also revealed a more enlightened stance towards the community during colonial days, when they had a higher standard of living.

They found work as mak andam (bridal attendants), joget dancers, cooks and artistes, and earned enough to afford a sex change operation.

However, more than half of the respondents interviewed during the study said they were sex workers.

Deep-seated problems

Teh further said discrimination and absence of societal acceptance have led to transsexuals displaying self-destructive behaviour like drug abuse and suicidal tendencies.

It is estimated that half of the mak nyah community and about 80 percent of the transsexual sex workers are drug addicts. About 14 percent had attempted suicide, according to the study.

Non-Muslim mak nyah appear to have fewer problems in dealing with their situation, compared to their Muslim counterparts.

For one thing, non-Muslims can undergo a sex change operation if they can afford one. And even if their respective religions do not accept transsexualism, they may choose the lifestyle they want.

Teh said Muslim transsexuals have accepted the fact that the religion forbids them to undergo a sex change operation.

"For many of them, however, being able to cross-dress and a deep feeling that they are females are enough," she added.