Third gender from Islamic law and its impacts towards Muslim culture in Malaysia.

Abstract

The symptoms of third gender, Pondan, Mak Nyah (trans-woman), and Pengkid (tomboy) have spread within the Malaysian society since early 1980. The symptoms are regarded as social problems that are against the social norms,opposed by the government as well as by various parties who regard the practice of emulating the opposite gender as unlawful in Islam. The transgender groups are currently growing in the community. They have formed networks of transgender community that is gradually becoming more vocal in demanding their “sexuality” to be recognized as a third gender