World

Malaysian millionaire under pressure 'to stop being a transgender'

Malaysia is increasingly becoming intolerant towards transgender people

News Desk January 14, 2019

PHOTO COURTESY: INSTAGRAM/ SAFIEYILLIAS94

A Malaysian millionaire hit back at conservative leaders after feeling pressure to 'change back' from being a transgender woman.

Cosmetics mogul Safiey Ilias turned down an invitation to have tea last week with Mufti Datuk Seri Zulkifli Mohamad, according to Daily Mail.

According to Ilias, previous meetings with other religious figures had been laced with pressure to return to being biological 'male'.

Posting on Instagram last week she wrote: 'It's not that I don't want to meet the mufti, but the society likes to expect too much.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsHza6hHtZS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

'[It is as if] after meeting the mufti, I ought to change to become a man. Or others will say, it is marketing for a new song, a new product. Or even, riding on religion.'

The Malay Mail reported that the mufti had also used the male pronoun 'Saudara' in Malay language to describe the transgender woman.

Ilias, who boasts almost a million followers on Instagram, has made her fortune in the cosmetics industry often sharing posts of her beauty products.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsHqFtnHzzk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

She also regularly shares snaps of her own lavish lifestyle and during luxury holidays. Ilias has also shared snaps of her transition, becoming increasingly glamorous over the years.

In 2016, she made the decision to continue her life as a woman after previously trying to live as a man.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsAppIIn6Ox/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ilias revealed that she had not only been the victim of bullying as growing up but she had also longed to live as the woman.

When first transitioning she had used the name 'Sofea' before switching to her name given to her at birth - 'Safiey'.

Malaysia is increasingly becoming intolerant towards transgender people, due to which over the past year attacks on trans people is on the rise such as the murder of a transwoman in Klang on New Year's Day.

This story originally appeared on Daily Mail

COMMENTS (2)

Teacher's | 5 years ago | Reply Today some one ask a question that why you spend so many time in this field and what is the aim of your life . Then what we do for the poor and helpful men . Then what we get after this situation . Then post of such type from the Government is helpful for you.

BrainBro | 5 years ago | Reply Sad coming from a country like Malaysia.

Replying to X