Tanjong Bungah assemblyperson Teh Yee Cheu, who recently appointed a transgender as his political aide, is upset that the Penang government has decided to form a bi-partisan caucus instead of a full fledged committee on the issue.

Teh said the "conservative mindset" prevailed in the Penang state executive council, which felt that the time has not come to set up a full-fledged transgender committee.

He questioned the reluctance in setting up such a committee when both sides of the political divide have somewhat agreed to it at the state legislative assembly sitting earlier this month.

NONE"Other than a conservative mindset, I believe there is also selfishness, as certain individuals simply lack the political will.

"They want to protect themselves. They are reluctant to take small steps (towards the forming of the committee)," Teh (on the right) told Malaysiakini in an interview.

Asked who he was referring to, Teh said the state executive councillor in charge of youth and sports, women, family and community, Chong Eng, told him there were "different opinions within the exco".

He said was not certain who were for or against the idea of setting up the committee but was aware that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was "quite unhappy" with this development.

Teh was referring to a statement in the Chinese media quoting Chong Eng as saying that a bi-partisan caucus would be formed, not a transgender committee.

Chong Eng, who is also Padang Lalang assemblyperson, is reported as saying that there was "some misunderstanding" between Teh's request and the proposal (to set up the committee) made in the state legislative assembly.

Issue also raised at DAP central committee

When contacted yesterday, Chong Eng declined to comment, saying she would speak about the matter later.

Teh said he was aware that the issue of forming the transgender committee had also been raised at the DAP's central executive committee, although he does not know what transpired at the meeting.

"I do not know if I will be isolated (due to this issue) but if it happens, there is no turning back. I will continue the struggle," he said.

"It is just like cycling. Once you take a step forward, you cannot retreat, once you are on the streets, you have to complete the trip, unless you are stopped or pushed to fall halfway in your journey," added the cycling enthusiast.

"Anyway, I will not be forcing my comrades to follow in my footsteps. It is up to them," said Teh, who is often described as the "Green YB" for his bold positions on social and environmental issues.

NONETeh said so far three Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons have shown interest in taking part in the committee - RSN Rayer (DAP-Seri Delima, left), Yap Soo Huey (DAP-Pulau Tikus) and Ong Chin Wen (PKR-Bukit Tengah).

State opposition leader Jahara Hamid (Umno-Teluk Ayer Tawar) and assemblypersons Sariful Azhar (Bertam) and Muhammad Yusoff Mohd Noor (Sungai Dua) have also shown their support for the committee, he added.

Since the state exco has shot down the idea of such a committee, Teh said, he would return to the state legislative assembly to see how else to proceed on the matter, while trying to lobby for more support from the public through education and awareness programmes on the issue.

"For the past three years, this suggestion (to set up a transgender committee) had been brought up in the state assembly and those involved in the debate are aware of this," he said.

"That is the basic understanding. It is regrettable to say there is a misunderstanding and the issue is again kicked back to the state legislative assembly when we should be at the implementation stage already," he lamented.

Teh said a committee under the state exco would have implementation and enforcement powers, unlike a bi-partisan caucus under the state assembly.