GEORGE TOWN, May 17 ― DAP representative Teh Yee Cheu’s proposed transgender committee was finally realised in the Penang legislative assembly today.
The Tanjung Bungah assemblyman, who proposed the formation of the committee in 2014, said it was formed after eight other assemblymen agreed to join.
"The eight assemblymen have agreed to form the committee today so I would like to thank them for making this a reality," he said in his debate on the motion of thanks to the Penang Governor's speech.
Teh also thanked state executive councillor Chong Eng (DAP ― Padang Lallang) for assisting and supporting the formation of the committee.
"Now, with this committee, I hope the state government will also provide some financial support to it," he said.
Later, Teh told reporters the committee was approved more than 18 months ago, but its formation was delayed until he was able to convince the representatives to attend its meetings.
He said the committee will look into the plight of the transgender community in three areas: medical access, the use public amenities, and run-ins with law enforcement.
"Now that we have a committee, we can move forward and organise programmes to help the community," he said.
The first step will be to organise transgender symposiums on July, September and October, each month for each area of concern.
