Jezebel: Malaysia

Malaysia, Uzbekistan Go After Valentine's Day, Probably Hate Romance

Madeleine Davies — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:10:00 EST

It's de rigueur to hate on Valentine's Day these days, but the countries of Malaysia and Uzbekistan are taking it to a whole new level by either canceling the holiday all together or arresting couples looking to shack up. More »

Malaysia Bans Obedient Wives Club Guide To Sex

Anna North — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EDT

Malaysia's Obedient Wives Club aims to solve all the problems of the world by getting wives to sex their husbands more frequently. But their efforts were stymied recently when Malaysian authorities banned their book, a compendium of offensiveness titled, Islamic Sex: Fighting Jews to Return Islamic Sex to the World. The Club teaches that most wives fulfill just 10% of their husbands sexual needs (it's unclear how they arrived at this figure), and that wives should act like "first-class whores" in the bedroom to keep their husbands satisfied. In the wake of the ban, they say a planned followup book may be released as "an internal newsletter, or an internal bulletin" instead. More »

Malaysian Woman Not Allowed To Change Religions

Anna North — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:58:00 EDT

In Malaysia, religious courts exist to try Muslims, while other citizens can use civil courts. This causes problems, like this one: Kamariah Ali was born a Muslim, but now follows a religion called Sky Kingdom. Under Muslim law, she faces jail for apostasy. She wants a civil court to recognize her as non-Muslim so she can avoid this charge, but the court has refused. Result: Ali will have to go before a Muslim court for the crime of not being a Muslim anymore. The mind reels. More »

"Obedient Wives Club" Teaches Women Advanced Doormattery Skills

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:46:24 EDT

Great news, ladies! We've solved marriage! More »

Activist Forced To Apologize 100 Times On Twitter

Anna North — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:50:00 EDT

A Malaysian activist accused a media company of mistreating his pregnant friend. The magazine sued for defamation, and now the activist has agreed to an unusual penalty — apologizing 100 times on Twitter. More »

"Effeminate" Boys Sent To Malaysian Boot Camp

Sadie Stein — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:25:00 EDT

The Department of Education in the Malaysian state of Terengganu has been sending "effeminate boys" to a boot camp to mend their ways — but at least this is drawing criticism from activist groups. More »

Malaysian Trans Woman Allegedly Used British Husband For Visa

Anna North — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:30:00 EDT

A British man has been left by his wife, who's Malaysian, after he spent his life savings helping her get permanent residency in the UK. She's also transgender — and the treatment she faced over her gender identity is an inescapable part of their story. More »

Sexist Malaysian Politician Says He's Victim Of Sexual Harassment

Irin Carmon — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:25:00 EDT

A Malaysian parliament member who blamed women for the majority of car accidents now complains he's being sexually harassed. Previously, he responded to a female MP's complaint about a leaky roof with, "Where's the leak? She leaks every month, too." More »

$1.5 Million Shipment Of Condoms Goes Missing

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:36:00 EST

Keep an eye out for 700,000 ultrathin Japanese condoms! A shipment worth $1.5 million disappeared while being transported to Tokyo from Sagami Rubber Industries' factory in Malaysia, AFP reports. More »

Know Your Veils: A Guide To Head Coverings

Anne Peterson — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:09:00 EST

Next time you are having dinner with a Bahraini dignitary, don't embarrass yourself by confusing the Queen's abaya with a burqa. More »

Malaysian Reality Show Has Contestants Vying For Imam Gig

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:22:00 EDT

A new Malaysian reality TV show has contestants performing some very unusual challenges, including preparing bodies for burial and counseling unwed mothers, all in the hopes of becoming an Imam. Kind of makes Fear Factor sound downright wussy. More »

One Nation, Under Gods

Anna Holmes — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:15:00 EST

[Kota Tinggi, Malaysia; January 14. Image via Getty]

Miley Lands Sex And The City; Kardashian Wedding Was A "Circus"

Dodai Stewart — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EDT

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Miley Cyrus will indeed be in Sex And The City 2:

The Eyes Have It

Anna Holmes — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:10:00 EDT

[Denpasar, Indonesia; August 25. Image via Getty]

Beer-Drinking Gets Woman Caned

Anna North — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:20:00 EDT

A part-time model who was caught drinking beer will become the first woman caned in Malaysia. The prosecutor in the case says, "It is a good punishment because under Islamic law a person who drinks commits a serious offense." [AP] More »

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

Anna Holmes — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:10:00 EDT

[Jakarta, August 2. Image via Getty]

"Justice" Is Served

Katy Kelleher — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EDT

A part-time model has been sentenced by an Islamic court in Malaysia to be flogged with a rattan cane for drinking a beer in a nightclub. She will also have to pay a $1,400 fine. [HindustanTimes] More »

Sign Of The Times

Anna Holmes — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:10:00 EDT

[Jakarta, June 10. Image via Getty]

The Princess Diaries

Anna Holmes — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:10:00 EDT

[Jakarta, June 2. Image via Getty]

Does This Make Jimmy Soul A Felon?

Sadie Stein — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:40:00 EDT

Calling one's wife ugly may soon become a criminal offense under Malaysia's Domestic Violence Act. Women's Development Department director-general Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur describes emotional violence as "a form of abuse that scars women deeply and lowers their self-esteem, dignity and self-confidence." [Hindustan Times] More »

Smoke/Screens

Anna Holmes — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:10:00 EDT

[Jakarta, Indonesia; May 26. Image via Getty]

Islamic authorities in Kota Bharu, a city...

Maria — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:45:00 EDT

Islamic authorities in Kota Bharu, a city in northern Malaysia, have distributed pamphlets urging women to forsake bright makeup and high heels to avoid being raped. The authorities (mocked by Malaysian liberals as "Taliban lite") justify their actions by saying they are simply making suggestions for women who want to lead a "100% Islamic" way of life. However, women who want to follow the suggestion against high heels but still want to channel their inner Carrie Bradshaws can do so as long as they pad their heels to mute the sound. Bright red lipstick is still strongly discouraged, because it is so Fall/Winter 2007. [Guardian] More »

Splitsville

Dodai Stewart — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:45:00 EDT

Rolan Ngah's first wife and second wife get along so well, they decided to leave him at the same time. Ngah, a 44-year old Malaysian Muslim, divorced his two wives on Tuesday, reports CBS News. According to Islamic law, a woman can submit a request to leave her husband, but the pronouncement of divorce must come from the man (or a court). Islam allows a man to have four wives. Ngah says he wasn't prepared for both women to ditch him simultaneously. "They are like good friends but I never imagined that both of them had collectively decided to divorce me," he claims. "I never expected our marriages to end in this manner." Surprise! No word on what his wives, ages 46 and 35, have planned, but we're sort of imagining them some Thelma & Louise spree — except with a happy ending. [CBS News] More »

Sweet Chastity.

eurotrash — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:29:40 EST

Well here's an interesting take on women's self defence strategies: More »