Conversion Practices
“Balik Pangkal Jalan” – The harm of conversion practices.
Conversion Practices
“Balik Pangkal Jalan” – The harm of conversion practices.
Conversion practices or "conversion therapy" refers to a range of treatments, practices, or sustained efforts to change, repress, or eliminate a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression (SOGIE) through various methods, aimed at aligning with cisgender heterosexuality or binary gender roles.
Conversion practices, often referred to as “conversion therapy,” encompass a range of methods aimed at changing, suppressing, or eliminating an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression (SOGIE) to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms.
These practices are based on pseudoscience and the false notion that LGBTQ and gender-diverse people are “ill” and require curing.
In Malaysia, such practices are commonly disguised under terms like:
- rawatan dan pemulihan kecelaruan gender (treatment and rehabilitation of gender confusion) or pemulihan, bimbingan, dan sokongan (rehabilitation, guidance, and support)
- kembali ke pangkal jalan or kembali ke fitrah (returning to the right path or the natural state)
- hijrah (ex-gay ministries or a process of transitioning into something “better”)
Both state and non-state actors, including government agencies and religious institutions, conduct these harmful practices. State-run activities are conducted by several entities, including the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), the Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM), and the Department of Islamic Religion. Non-state actors include churches, non-governmental organisations, and even mental health providers. Notably, the state and non-state efforts are occasionally connected. The state’s endorsement of conversion practices provides the perpetrators with impunity, enabling these harmful activities to persist openly.
A JFS et al survey found that individuals commonly experienced various forms of pressure to change their SOGIE. The most frequent manifestations of this pressure included:
- receiving negative comments
- being coerced to marry a cisgender person
- facing pressure to consult with mental health providers
- experiencing name-calling
- being subjected to verbal threats and acts of violence
The survey found that 70.25% of respondents reported that their family members pressured them into changing their SOGIE. As a result, respondents experienced various negative impacts, including increased stress, anxiety, isolation, and other mental health issues.