Sodomy allegations against Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim have put the spotlight on homosexuality.

Malaysia is one of 70 countries where homosexual acts are criminalized and punishable up to 20 years imprisonment.

But Gay groups are determined to force the public to debate the issue of homosexual rights in open matter.

They have just held a two-day festival called Seksualiti Merdeka- the first gay festival in Malaysia.

Clarence Chua meets with the organiser of the event.

“Well I am gay and I never had any problems with regards to publicly revealing my sexuality.”

KT Pang says his public festival Seksualiti Merdeka gives Malaysians a chance to openly debate homosexuality.

“There will be people who are unhappy about it. I am also trying to be sensitive to the environment. I understand why the issue is perceived the way it is today, so as a result we have tried to strategise our event to be very non-provocative. To these people who are unhappy it all I can say is give people a chance to explain themselves.”

Despite homosexuality being illegal in Malaysia KT Pang says he is loud and proud about his sexuality.

“The most resistance I received are from closeted gay people. It is the closeted gays who are uncomfortable with my “out-ness”.”

There are several unofficial gay nightclubs around Kuala Lumpur.

The authorities do at times turn a blind eye but homosexual activities are usually quickly clamped down.

Recently police in Penang held 14 people and size 1,800 condoms at a fitness centre believed to be a front for gay activities.

In this environment the fact that the Seksualiti Merdeka festival went ahead without protests was extraordinary.

The two day event held in the heart of Kuala Lumpur was filled with popular music performances such as this from Mei Chern.

There were also public forums and lecturers on alternative sexuality.

Historian Dr Farish Noor delivered a lecture that argued homosexuality was ingrained in the regions history.

“Homosexuality is not something imported from the West. It is not something imposed on us. In fact if anything is imported from the West is the laws that criminalised homosexuality. That’s been imported from the West. So I think struggling for the rights of gender minorities is part and parcel of the longer political struggle for the emancipation of South East Asian Societies.”

According to Dr Farish, the importance of Seksualiti Merdeka is to halt religious extremism entering mainstream politics.

“My fear is that if we do not find ways to normalise what has been rendered abnormal then this persecution and this marginalising will continue.”

The recent general election has showed that Malaysians are ready for political change.

But how far are we willing to confront the topic of same sex relationships remains to be seen. Society remains divided.

BS Tan who has a long term girlfriend says he has no issues with homosexuality.

“Basically I don’t have a problem with same sex relationships as long as don’t get into my life and cause me hardship.”

But Syed Mohammad a father of two insists it’s against his religion.

“It’s against gays you know it’s against the teachings of Islam. It’s wrong.”

Very few politicians dare to tackle this issue head on.

In the 2004 general election Malaysian Chinese Association leader Dr Lee Choong Meng proposed to legalise transvestite activities at Lorong Haji Taib, a place notorious for its transvestite activities.

He lost the seat.

The recent allegations against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim shows that sodomy is used as a political tool to garner public support.

KT Pang says that it is time that gay’s banded together and assert their rights.

“They cannot just be interested in their own rights and be happy with getting away with the gay activities that go on now where the authorities shut one eye. They need to be actively involved in the civic movement of the country so they can say yes I am a Malaysian and I contribute to this country and therefore my rights should be respected too.”