NGOs working with drug users and LGBT activists have criticised Transformasi Nasional 2050 (TN50) for selective engagement, claiming none of them was informed or invited to its dialogue sessions despite being widely known for their work.

Two townhall-style, significantly more low-key TN50 dialogue sessions were held with drug users and members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in recent weeks.

Representing Malaysia as keynote speaker at the World Harm Reduction Conference 2017 in Canada, Haryati Jonet has been working closely with drug users as a member of a national NGO for the past seven years.

She said: “Unfortunately, I was not invited.... If TN50 wants to talk about drugs and other related issues, I can coordinate more NGOs and drug users from around the country (to attend),” she said.

Last Friday’s session was attended by 70 active users and a few volunteers from Chow Kit-based Ikhlas drop-in centre where the session was held. Issues raised by participants included difficulty in accessing treatment, finding jobs and obtaining basic welfare. No NGOs were spotted at the meeting.

Haryati only found out about the event after a friend posted about it on Facebook, on the day of the event.

“They were collecting information only from a very small group, it’s kind of not valid,” she lamented.

TN50 sessions in the past have had up to 1,000 people in attendance.

‘Engage with diverse LGBT groups’

In line with the organisers’ mission to engage at-risk societal groups, a TN50 session was also held with members of the LGBT community.

A small group of 20 people met last Monday at the Bandar Baru Ampang office of Pertubuhan Amal Firdausi (Pafi), an Islamic NGO focusing on LGBT issues. 

“How come other LGBT activists didn't know about this?” asked Seksualiti Merdeka co-founder and LGBT activist Pang Khee Teik (photo).

He nevertheless hoped that following this session, the government would start engaging with more LGBT people and groups.

“LGBTs, like all Malaysians, are not a uniform group with a uniform desire.

“Some of us dream of getting health insurance, some dream of equality, some dream of having a hand to hold, some dream of bringing our partner home for reunion dinner, some dream of not being regarded as a criminal and having to hide who we are.

“Come talk to all of us and you will see we have big dreams for Malaysia,” he said, referring to the theme of TN50 where participants are asked to contribute their aspirations for the nation leading up to 2050.

Also in the dark about the event was transgender rights group Justice for Sisters founder Thilaga Sulathireh.

Like Pang, she hoped such sessions would signal a shift in the government’s stance towards LGBT people.

“We hope that this will also end harmful efforts that aim to cure or rehabilitate LGBT persons and misinformation about LGBT persons,” she added.

Just this week the Health Ministry was criticised by transgender activist Nisha Ayub for organising a video contest about the consequences of “gender dysphoria” - defined as being gay, lesbian, transgender or tomboy. The ministry later dropped the category.

‘Muslims, non-Muslims, NGOs engaged separately’

The organiser of the sessions, Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) information chief Mohammad Rizan Hassan (photo), admitted to not inviting other activists but defended his approach.

“We did not want input that wasn’t balanced, we wanted to target Muslims first.

“Muslim LGBTs raise different issues, like their problems they face when visiting the mosque,” he explained.

He however signalled the possibility of future, albeit separate engagement with groups who missed out this time around.

“This is not the first and last programme, they (other NGOs) can approach us for future sessions.

“But I think it’s more appropriate to do it with Muslims, and then non-Muslims, and then operators (NGOs).

 “If there is a mix, we won’t get solid input,” he reasoned.

Transformasi Nasional 2050 (TN50) has since the start of the year called upon Malaysians to share their aspirations for the future of the country.

More than 33,000 aspirations have been recorded so far from 13 TN50 townhall-style dialogue sessions held across the nation with university students, young professionals, government servants, even celebrities.

These two sessions were the first few to be conducted by MBM in partnership with the Sports and Youth Ministry. The next session will be held with “street boys”, said Mohammad Rizan.