JULY 9 — I will openly admit that I have been openly gay since 2008 when I came out right in front of a crowd of people. Thus, when I was outed again during the #undirosak campaign, it wasn’t the same fireworks to crash the closet once more.

I will admit personally being blessed by accepting parents, and also colleagues as well as clients who really can’t be bothered to take the personal issue as a barrier in my work, even when I was working as the communications manager for a Malay NGO.

Thus, when people throw a fir of how a gay man cannot be hired on the civil service, in this so-called "new Malaysia” that is being dreamed of by many, I will bash that closet yet again.

Numan Afifi was appointed as a media officer to Syed Saddiq, the newly selected Minister of Youth and Sports. He had hosted a gay Buka Puasa event last year which irked conservatives. In return, he had to resign from his political party, received death threats and even got outed to his parents.

And yet, Numan also led the Sekolah Demokrasi in Malaysia, and was even selected to join the Young South-east Asian Leadership Initiative by the United States. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him personally last year in London while he was waiting to head to America for his fellowship.

As such, I know him personally, and I empathise with what he went through. Nobody deserves to be faced with such discrimination, especially with a government pushing for change and promising to uphold human rights for everyone, even if it’s the former prime minister who allegedly stole billions.

To now discredit him for his sexuality rather look at his merits, I will say is an act of cowardice in this day and age. Because a gay man can serve his country regardless of his sexual orientation, and others can do so regardless of their gender, their politics and even their beliefs.

This, is the Malaysia everyone should be working towards.

My thanks to MP Charles Santiago to be the first lawmaker on the side of government to voice this, yet the silence from his colleagues just goes to show their cautious stance regarding this issue is only as good as the votes they wish to keep.

As such, I will ask the rest of our lawmakers a simple question — do you believe in the right of a person to be who they are? Do you believe in their right to privacy? And more import angkat, do we believe in merit being the benchmark in appointing a civil servant?

Inasmuch as Numan is gay, he is more than his sexuality. He has clearly shown his ability to lead and has even be acknowledged by America as leadership material.

To those unable to see beyond his sexuality, it is a shame that you believe a person’s private life is basis to judge someone over their sense of duty to serve towards the country’s progress.

In an age where the youths of Malaysia are facing issues of debt, of lagging jobs, of gangsterism and even the need to dump babies and teenage pregnancy as well as underaged marriages, it is the deepest hypocrisy to begrudge someone for being who they are and advocating solutions to such changes.

To Numan personally, you know that the two of us will always back you, the Malaysians abroad here in London will always give you the support you need. And the Malaysians in the millions who voted for change, with so many minorities among them, will always lend their support.

If this is to be the new Malaysia, then let it be an inclusive one regardless of their race, their gender, their politics and even their beliefs. The majority has made it clear that change is in the air for the country, and it is time to show it in actions rather than just words and empty promises.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.