The Malaysian Insight

THE recent floods in large parts of the Peninsula saw many Malaysians springing into action to help victims, but needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) community have generally gone unnoticed.

Jejaka, a non-profit that supports LGBT youths said while it was heart-warming to see all the help pouring in, not enough was being done to support this marginalised community, which was also affected by the floods.

Persecuted by the authorities, members of the LGBT community feared being placed in government relief centres, where their gender identity and their medication needs could become an issue.

Seeing this, Jejaka stepped in to do what it could to help flood victims from the community.

Founder Numan Affi, 30, said the group predominantly does HIV outreach programmes, but had decided to aid in flood relief to fill a gap.

“We have mobilised because we are in the blind spot when it comes to disaster relief,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“It is also questionable whether it is safe for them to be in government relief centres. The relief centres always divide people by gender, and they don’t consider gay couples who are family.

“Certain things that are needed for the LGBTQ+ community are also not considered as part of the healthcare services. There are a lot of gaps that need to be filled.”

Jejaka was founded in 2017 by Numan to look into the welfare of Malay LGBT youth.

“We’ve been around since 2017. Our organisation is predominantly Malay LGBT people. And there is no other such organisation they can go to.

“We are a membership-based organisation with 200 members. We have 20 full time staff doing outreach work for HIV while we have 60 volunteers for the flood relief efforts.

“Most of our members are between 25 to 30 years old. But our clients are of all ages.”

Jejaka is among several other groups who are helping the LGBT community by providing them with a shelter if the government flood relief centres prove to be dangerous for them, and with medication for HIV or hormone therapy.

“Some have lost their medications due to the floods. If they reach out to us, we will get it delivered to the relief centres. We are also reaching out to the trans community members who have lost their hormone therapy drugs.

“In terms of shelter, we have a centre for young LGBT individuals who may not have families or have been ostracised by their families. We also run a safe house in Petaling Jaya to provide peer to peer support,” Numan said.

So far, the group has helped clean-up efforts at refugee and trans community centre Seed Foundation.

It has also cleaned up around 10 houses in the Klang Valley, and delivers care packages and HIV medications to about a dozen people who are placed in relief centres.

Its care packages include items such as toiletries, feminine hygiene products, dry food, blankets, cleaning supplies and cash aid when needed.

It expects to house around half-a-dozen LGBT flood victims in the coming weeks in its shelter.

“We are working to relocate them, but we have no access now. Our shelter also has existing tenants who are not flood victims, so we have to find a new place to house them,” Numan said, adding that he expects them to stay for at least three months before they can manage on their own.

Jejaka provides its services for free.

Aid not reaching community

“We raise funds and we have international donors and grants. We have so far raised RM25,000 for flood relief.”

While Jejaka has been doing its best to cater to the community, it is finding it difficult to cater to all as well as getting the word out about its services.

“Getting the word out has been difficult as our members are discreet. Sometimes the aid that we provide doesn’t reach them.

“We have also been receiving requests from all over the country but because of our capacity, we are only able to help remotely or partner with organisations that are friendly to us.”

Jejaka has partnered with youth-based party Muda in Lembah Pantai and Sepang for clean-up efforts and the political party refers LGBT cases to Jejaka if they come across any, Numan said.

Numan said the flood relief efforts would continue until the end of the year.

“We are expecting to go to Pahang next week.”

Unusually heavy and continuous rain from Friday to Sunday caused large parts of the Klang Valley to be hit by floods. There were also floods in Perak, Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Malacca and Negri Sembilan, and up to roof-level in some places.

Currently, the death toll stands at 37, while more than 68,341 victims from 18,080 families are housed in 398 temporary evacuation centres nationwide.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government has been criticised for its slow response in helping flood victims. Rescue and clean-up efforts are ongoing. – December 24, 2021.