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"We are not condemning, but educating them," Rosol said.
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CAIRO — A Malaysian northeastern state is considering a rehabilitation program to advise Muslim youngsters about proper dressing as part of its efforts to tackle the disturbing phenomena of cross dressers, The New Straits Times reported on Thursday, April 12.
"We are looking to counseling as a way to curb the problem," said Rosol Wahid, chairman of the Islam Hadhari and Welfare Committee in Terengganu state.
The state's religious officials have rounded up 12 transvestites and cross-dressers so far this year, including two sentenced to jail.
Rosol, a member of the Terengganu's law-setting assembly, said legal punishment alone has proven to be the wrong way to tackle the problem.
"We found out that those sentenced to jail were back to their old habit when they were released."
Cross-dressing is frowned upon in the predominantly-Muslim country, where the devout consider the practice contrary to the Islamic injunctions on proper attire.
Muslim Malays make up nearly 60 percent of Malaysia’s 26 million population while ethnic Chinese and Indians - mostly Buddhists, Hindus and Christians - make up about 35 percent.
Educating
Rosol told the Malaysian daily that rehabilitation centers for young people and students may be set up if the numbers of transvestites and cross-dressers increased.
"Those involved would be given a court order, similar to the Drug Preventive Measures Act, to attend rehabilitation programs," he elaborated.
"We are not condemning, but educating them," Rosol maintained.
The official said the improper behavior was gaining popularity among boys in the state who copy the mannerisms of popular male celebrities.
He insisted that state government had no intention of banning male celebrities who were feminine in nature.
Rosol added that the state's religious officials would remain vigil on the favorite hangouts of cross-dressers.
"Although the problem is not serious, we have to act before it gets out of control."
The small coastal state of Terengganu was the center of a recent controversy after the local authorities announced a plan to use voluntary corps to provide tip-offs about couples engaged in inappropriate behavior.
The privacy raids triggered immediate condemnation from human rights activists and lawmakers.
The state eventually quashed the plan after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi weighing in the debate asking them to drop the unnecessary plan.
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