Research and publications

What Malaysians can do to end rape

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Malaysia is fast becoming one of the rape capitals of the world. With an all-time high in cases of sexual assault last year, there is much finger-pointing toward law enforcers and the government who stand idle on the matter, but surprisingly little towards society itself that ultimately has… Continue reading What Malaysians can do to end rape

Bogel

Saya ingin membuat pengakuan: saya suka bermandi dalam keadaan bogel. Telanjang. Au naturel. Mungkin ini sebuah pengakuan yang remeh-temeh dan bukan panas membakar, tetapi bagi saya ia agak penting sebagai pembuka topik. Semasa menghadiri acara Fiesta Feminista di Kota Kinabalu bulan November lepas di mana kesemua hadirin bermalam di asrama dan berkongsi bilik tidur dan… Continue reading Bogel

On sexual slavery and the question of what makes something ‘Islamic’

First published on Muslimah Media Watch, on June 28th 2011. Salwa al-Mutairi, a Kuwaiti politican, gave a cold-blooded proposal for Muslim men to take female slaves, especially non-Muslim female prisoners of war, for sexual use (or rather rape). It has rather unpredictably come under fire. Slavery is one of the most abhorrent forms of abuse… Continue reading On sexual slavery and the question of what makes something ‘Islamic’

What Malaysians talk about when we talk about pornography

Mercifully, this week will mark the end to the hormonal excesses of Porn Week on Loyar Burok. Articles on a topic Malaysians are supposedly tight-lipped about were purged onto unsuspecting readers like a satisfying diarrheic release – it must have felt good for the writer of the articles concerned but for many others in virtual… Continue reading What Malaysians talk about when we talk about pornography

Some notes on sluttiness in Jalang

The best part about being a researcher in film and media is the joy of discovering half-forgotten ‘gems’, like the Malaysian film called Jalang (2009). Jalang (Malay for slut, whore, wayward butterfly, you get the idea) is the ground-breaking cinematic masterpiece by Nazir Jamaluddin about a high-flying young woman Maria who apparently sleeps her way… Continue reading Some notes on sluttiness in Jalang

Two steps forward, one step back: On Dalam Botol, Malaysia’s first ‘gay’ film

Written for the LSE equality and diversity blog For a country keen on displaying its hyper-modernity, Malaysian law and social attitudes on sexual morality in general have always had a conservative bent. While there are pockets of change, much of the public discourse on sex and morality are dominated by sexist and homophobic language. A… Continue reading Two steps forward, one step back: On Dalam Botol, Malaysia’s first ‘gay’ film

A Kakak Killjoy reflects on the ‘burqa’ ban in France

First published on Kakak Killjoy As we all know, the “burqa” ban has taken effect in France on Monday as a political and nationalistic expression to preserve the French cultural identity and end the “oppressive” practices of face-covering among Muslim women. Two women have already been arrested. We should know that such invasive intervention done… Continue reading A Kakak Killjoy reflects on the ‘burqa’ ban in France

The complicated politics of being First Lady

Sensitivity and compassion are apparently not Rosmah Mansor’s, the Malaysian “First Lady”, best suits. In a recent press appearance, Rosmah intended to buck the trend of the silent and exceedingly proper politician’s wife, by making self-righteous remarks about the recent Japanese tragedy as a well-deserved lesson for all. In the spirit of freedom of expression,… Continue reading The complicated politics of being First Lady