KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 — An activist from the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) claimed today that there are allegedly "more” trans women these days because men "desire” for them.

In a report by Sinar Online, PPIM Special Action Unit chief Yusuf Azmi had also warned men against "falling in love easily” with trans women.

"They turn like that because there are ‘demands’, because there are those who like, prefer and love them,” he was quoted saying, but did not elaborate how he came to that conclusion.

Despite Yusuf’s claim, a transgender does not "transform” into the opposite gender, but associates with a gender identity that is different from the sex assigned at birth.

Yusuf said it is a "problem” that men can also be attracted to trans women.

"Why must there be lust for them?” he reportedly asked.

Gender identity has no relation with sexual orientation, and a cis man who is attracted to a trans woman is considered straight.

Malaysia’s Islamic laws prohibit same-sex relationships and cross-dressing.