Elisha, who heads Pertubuhan Kesihatan dan Kebajikan Malaysia (PKKUM), said transgenders wanted their safety to be ensured.

“We are working to contribute to Malaysia and we do not wish to be subjected to assaults whenever we walk out from our houses.

“This police report serves as our right as Malaysians to voice out against criticism and hate comments,” she told reporters.

The controversy was sparked by the removal of pictures of pro-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) activists from a photo exhibition in Penang during the George Town Festival early this month.

Pictures of transgender activist Nisha Ayub and pro-LGBT activist Pang Khee Teik were removed on the directive of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic religious affairs, Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

He said the decision was made to protect the LGBT community from being harassed. Nisha agreed with the removal of her picture.

Elisha said after the controversy broke, the transgender community received a lot of negative and hateful comments on social media.

Some social media users even said they would kill any transgender they saw, she said.

“The muftis are speaking against us by saying fighting for LGBT rights is akin to fighting for animal rights, and that the LGBT community opposed God’s law,” Elisha said, referring to reported comments by Penang mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor and Pahang mufti Abdul Rahman Osman.

She also lamented the lack of government action to safeguard their rights.

“The minister (Mujahid) said that the people should not discriminate against LGBT in the workplace.

“But there are no guidelines from the human resources ministry that ensure equal treatment for us,” she said.