Transgender issue at UMNO general assembly, Khairy slams critics

UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has slammed an analyst who claimed he (Khairy) was seeking public attention for wanting to bring the transgender issue to the UMNO General Assembly later this month.

“During the UMNO general assembly, we often raise issues that touches the Malay community and Islam. Why can’t we discuss issues on Islam?

“If we can’t talk about Islam during the UMNO general assembly then what can we talk about,” asked Khairy on Sunday.

During the wing's assembly, UMNO youth will debate on the syariah laws, specifically on the powers of the syariah courts and civil courts.

“The issue raised will refer to the recent case involving three individuals over the Section 66 of the Syariah Criminal (Negeri Sembilan) Enactment 1992.

Earlier, political analyst Professor Ahmad Atory Hussain said Khairy wanted to bring up the religiously sensitive subject as part of the wing’s move to champion the issue at the assembly .

“Khairy is a politician, but he acted more than an ulama. He wants to be seen as great for championin g this issue,” said Ahmad Atory when contacted by Astro AWANI.

Khairy also said elevating the syariah courts to the same level as the civil courts will also be debated at the asembly.

“It is a suggestion to be considered. I am sure it will be debated at the UMNO General Assembly so that thre is no conflict between the syariah courts and the civil courts. We have to make sure that the jurisdiction of the respective courts are clear so that we are not confused of the powers of the both courts,” said Khairy at a press conference after opening the Sri Murugan Centre National Youth Convention at Perdana Siswa Complex, Universiti Malaya.