Malaysian under fire for cross-dressing at beauty pageant in Thailand

Malaysian under fire for cross-dressing at beauty pageant in Thailand The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia said it would summon the man for questioning after he took part in the Miss Equality World event The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) will summon a Malaysian participant in the Miss Equality World 2026 pageant in Thailand for questioning, following the circulation of social media posts. In a statement on Tuesday, Jakim director general Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said Jakim would work with state Islamic religious authorities and relevant agencies to take action against the individual in accordance with existing laws and regulations. He said the participant’s involvement in the pageant was regrettable and had caused public concern. Sirajuddin said the act went against religious values and human nature, as well as contravened Malaysian laws. “Jakim and the state Islamic religious authorities will not compromise with any efforts to normalise such behaviour,” he said. A video circulating on social media showed an individual, believed to be a man, wearing women’s clothing and speaking at the competition in Bangkok last Sunday, prompting criticism online.