Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today.
Key Highlights
Is Zamri Vinoth above the law?
Three trans women, three hard journeys
Four things about the M’sia-Indonesia border dispute
Is Zamri Vinoth above the law?
The authorities are usually swift to crack down on matters related to the cardinal rule of 3R - statements or actions that incite hate or conflict concerning race, religion, and royalty. Yet there is one individual, whom many consider a recidivist, who appears to be above the law.
This prompted DAP lawmaker RSN Rayer to demand an explanation from Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He wanted to know how it is possible that, despite more than 890 police reports lodged against Muslim preacher Zamri Vinoth, there has been no legal action.
“Zamri frequently makes statements on social media that provoke public anger and spark misunderstandings between races. Why has he still not been charged in court?” he asked.
The preacher, who is no stranger to controversies, is now planning to hold a protest in Kuala Lumpur over illegal places of worship. Rayer, however, has appealed to the police not to give the green light.
He claimed that the protest could trigger racial and religious tensions and invite unhealthy polemics.
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Three trans women, three hard journeys
Last month, a trans woman was charged in the Kelantan Syariah Court in Kota Bharu under a state law that criminalises changing one’s gender - a case that could result in a fine of up to RM3,000 or a prison sentence of two years.
While it is believed to be the first prosecution in Malaysia linked to sex reassignment surgery, the reality behind the charge is far more complex. For decades - as far back as the 1970s - trans women in Malaysia have quietly undergone such procedures, often at great personal cost and risk.
What drives them to make this decision? What obstacles do they face before, during and after the surgery? And how do they navigate life in a society that criminalises their identity?
In this report, Malaysiakini speaks to several trans women who share their deeply personal journeys, struggles and hardships in pursuing what they believe to be their true selves. For their safety, all names and identifying details have been changed.
Read the full story to understand their lived realities beyond the headlines.
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Four things about the M’sia-Indonesia border dispute
On Jan 22, Indonesian media reported that Malaysia had “ceded” 5,207ha of land to Indonesia near the Sabah–Kalimantan border — an area larger than Putrajaya.
The claim triggered more than a week of speculation and public concern, before Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim addressed the issue in Parliament.
Much to the chagrin of the opposition, Anwar also labelled them “stupid” for allegedly failing to grasp the facts surrounding the border dispute in Pulau Sebatik.
Following this, several opposition MPs called for a debate in the Dewan Rakyat on the Malaysia-Indonesia border negotiations.
“We were not allowed to debate, but we were called stupid. To find out who is stupid and who is not, open up a debate,” said PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.
To separate fact from fiction, this Malaysiakini explainer takes a closer look at the controversy.
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Views that matter
 | By Andrew Sia |
 | By Azam Mohd |
 | By Aishwarya Visvanathan & Charles Santiago |
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