KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — The Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) will continue with efforts to rehabilitate “mak nyah” or transvestites through the Camp Programme despite objection from various quarters.

Its Family, Social and Community Development director, Zakuan Sawai said the programme had indirectly succeeded in making many participants to come to their senses and some even wanted to return to the right path.

“Some who had undergone sex change operations have repented and seek continued guidance from Jakim,” he told Bernama, here, today.

He said the Program Mukhayyam did not promise the transvestites would become real men immediately, but Jakim endeavoured to steer them away from committing vice.

He was responding to a statement from a group who call themselves ‘Justice for Sisters’ (JFS) and some transvestites, claiming in an online English news portal on Sunday that the programme had a hidden agenda and was dangerous.

According to Zakuan, JFS only comprised 13 committee members, and most non-Muslims did not understand Jakim’s noble effort.

He said members of JFS, many of whom were professionals such as doctors and lawyers, were trying to influence transvestites not to return to the right path.

JFS also claimed that other than not making congregation prayers compulsory, the participants were forced to don men’s clothes when praying.

Zakuan said they were not forced to pray in a congregation, but they could do so and wear men’s clothes voluntarily, and pick the imam by themselves to lead the prayers.

“We are proud of the things done by the participants. It was fortunate that during the programme, they did not wear the women’s prayer attire. Imagine, if one day, the men wear ‘telekung’ and pray with the women!” he said.

“In fact, most of the participants were not comfortable with the presence of the transgender activists as they were always instigating them.

“The participants also supported us (Jakim) and gave words of encouragement in facing the activists,” he said in response to the transgender activists’ allegations against the government agency’s noble programme.

Zakuan urged the transgender activists such as JFS to come forward for a cordial discussion with Jakim over the issue.

The Mukhayyam programme, in the form of a three-day two-night camp, which started in early 2011 through collaboration between Jakim and the state Islamic religious departments, has attracted 500 participants, thus far.

Other than the religious content, to create awareness and self-realisation, the programme also gave the participants the opportunity to carry out physical activities such as the flying fox and playing football and sepak takraw. — Bernama