Betol-betol Sengal! Masih tak serik lagi?

Penduduk masih melintasi landasan kereta api sehari selepas nahas lori tangki dirempuh di Kota Kinabalu, kelmarin.

Sila baca selanjutnya → Betol-betol Sengal! Masih tak serik lagi?

Betol-betol Sengal! Berebut mahu anak dinobat penduduk ketujuh bilion

Ia sepatutnya menjadi acara simbolik sahaja bagi menandakan satu mercu tanda global. Tetapi, apabila Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) mengisytiharkan seorang bayi dari Filipina sebagai penduduk dunia ketujuh bilion, ia mencetuskan bantahan. Ibu bapa di Britain hingga ke India berebut-rebut untuk mendakwa anak mereka sebenarnya yang menjadi bayi mercu istimewa itu.

Dengan ratusan ribu kelahiran di seluruh dunia setiap hari, adalah sukar untuk menentukan pemegang gelaran sebenar. Bagaimanapun, PBB memilih untuk menobatkan Danica May Camacho yang dilahirkan dua minit sebelum tengah malam Ahad lalu (waktu tempatan) kepada satu keluarga miskin di Manila dengan menghadiahkan mereka kek coklat dengan perkataan ‘7B Filipina’ di atasnya dan baucar hadiah untuk kasut percuma.

Ibunya, Camille berkata: “Danica kelihatan comel. Saya tidak percaya dia menjadi penduduk ketujuh bilion.” Tidak mahu ketinggalan, pegawai di Uttar Pradesh, negeri paling ramai penduduk di India, mengisytharkan tujuh bayi perempuan yang dilahirkan semalam bagi berkongsi penghormatan itu. Mereka termasuk Nargis Yaday, bayi pasangan Ajay dan Vinita.

Britain turut mempunyai calon tersendiri. Sebaik dilahirkan di Hospital St Thomas, London pada jam 6.58 pagi (waktu tempatan), Peter Bashir dihadiahkan patung beruang oleh ahli politik Baroness Tonge, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown dan kakitangan hospital.

Ibunya, Yasmin Karim, dari Rotherhithe, selatan London berkata: “Kami boleh memberitahunya (Bashir) bahawa dia adalah penduduk ketujuh bilion apabila dia besar kelak. Saya dapat merasakan dia ingin cepat keluar. Mungkin dia mahu jadi orang terkenal.” Sambutan juga dilakukan di Vietnam, Zambia, Russia dan Greece selepas periystiharan oleh pegawai tempatan. Malangnya, ia kejuaraan yang tidak membawa banyak makna. Keluarga Adnan Nevic dari Bosnia Herzegovina yang dinobatkan bayi keenam bilion dan Matej Gaspar dari Croatia yang diisytiharkan bayi kelima bilion, mendakwa PBB tidak mengendahkan mereka selepas kelahiran itu.

 

Kredit: Daily Mail

Sila baca selanjutnya → Betol-betol Sengal! Berebut mahu anak dinobat penduduk ketujuh bilion

Betol-betol Hangat! Gempar Pawagam MidValley terbakar?

 

Orang ramai di sebuah pusat beli-belah terkemuka di sini, gempar selepas satu kebakaran berlaku di lorong kecemasan dalam sebuah pawagam di pusat itu, tengah hari semalam. Kebakaran pada jam 1.20 tengah hari itu bermula dari lorong kecemasan di dalam pawagam berkenaan sebelum api merebak ke kawasan lain.

Ketua Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Pantai, Hamid Daud, berkata pihaknya menerima panggilan kecemasan pada jam 1.22 tengah hari sebelum sebuah jentera dengan 11 anggota dihantar ke tempat kejadian. Bagaimanapun, sebaik tiba di lokasi enam minit kemudian didapati api sudah dipadam, tetapi masih berasap tebal. Menurutnya, ketika kejadian, pawagam berkenaan kosong. Setakat ini, punca kejadian masih disiasat dan tiada kemalangan jiwa dilaporkan.

Sila baca selanjutnya → Betol-betol Hangat! Gempar Pawagam MidValley terbakar?

Betol-betol Hangat! Facts About Malaysia’s Male Sex Workers

Mak Nyah or Pondan is the Malay term for transvestites or cross-dressers. Society frowns upon them, even though these people have their own reasons for leading lives as the opposite gender.

This article delves into the life of ‘Atuk’, a HIV positive transvestite who has been through many hardships – sexual abuse, drug addiction, prostitution – but has now turned over a new leaf to help those in the same predicament.

Most of the public is aware of female sex workers and their unrecognized trade in Malaysia. However, how many know of the more elusive male sex workers? Only those who are acquainted with these people can reveal details of their background and their clandestine activities. One such person is a transvestite called 'Atuk'.

Atuk, whose real name is Roslan Hamzah, 52, had come across transvestite prostitutes when he was plying his own trade in the notorious Lorong Haji Taib. He now works for an outreach program to help people like himself and other male sex workers. Atuk is HIV positive but has renounced destructive habits, such as taking drugs and renting out his body for sex.

Pushed to a Corner

 

What makes one end up as a male sex worker? Travails of life and drug abuse are among the chief reasons cited by men who disregard their ego, dignity, and religious beliefs and end up selling their bodies to those who want to satisfy their lust. Some may have applied for jobs several times and failed to secure one. Even those who could obtain work could hardly make ends meet, especially when living in Kuala Lumpur. So these people, too, become vulnerable and many ended up as male sex workers to supplement their income.

On the scale of earnings, Atuk had this to say: "On the average, if you are handsome, have an attractive physique, still young, you can earn between two to three hundred ringgit per day with up to three customers." Asked about their ages, Atuk said there were some sex workers as young as 14 and others as old as 30.

"They cannot exceed 30 years of age and they have to be real men, never mind if they are married," notes Atuk.

According to Atuk, most sex workers entertain guests after taking drugs or liquor.

"Out of 50 people, I can say 48 will entertain customers this way," said Atuk.

Normally, male sex workers take syabu (ice) and heroin, or at least liquor. Ice is the street name for methamphetamine, which is popular among addicts.

Victims of Fate?

As described by Atuk, some join the trade because of the influence of friends, while a few ignorant ones, especially those who migrate from villages to towns looking for employment, also end up as sex workers. Many have also told Atuk that they were in the trade for fun or to make quick money.

"This is one story that I have heard. When the boy reached Pudu Raya, he asked for directions from the wrong person, a male sex worker, who instead influenced the boy to join the trade.

"They will say if you want an easy life, this is the way. If you have the looks....

"Those who came from the villages want jobs but when they hear of opportunities like this to make easy money without having to work hard. (They) only have to entertain gay men, mak nyah, or women, they may want to give a try.

"They are just ordinary men, like most with the instincts to get married and have a family...," noted Atuk.

Who Are They?

Almost everyone wants to know who these male sex workers are. From his own experience and outreach work, Atuk noted that male sex workers were mostly Malays. He also learned that some male sex workers around Kuala Lumpur come from as far as Sabah, Sarawak, Thailand and China. Atuk has also observed that many male sex workers in the city hail from Kelantan.

He recalled the unfortunate story of two brothers in the trade who are from Kelantan.

"The elder one was infected with HIV first, and the younger one contracted HIV later, after both brothers shared the same needle to inject drugs," he said.

When Atuk first got to know them, the elder one was 15 and the younger one 14.

"That is the reality and worst still, I saw the elder one changing girlfriends, though he was HIV positive," he added.

Fearing the Disease

Asked about the number of male sex workers, Atuk said he knows about 100 of them in the city. Atuk, himself, is worried about the fate of male sex workers and the impact of their activities on others.

"What is the implication for their partners, their customers, their parents, society? If they get married, what is the effect on their children?

"Many of those that I met later were new faces, I don't know where they came from," he said. And what happened to those that Atuk used to know? Where are they now?

"What is worrying me is their state of health, something that most choose to ignore. This is among the issues that I often raise on discussions relating to HIV/AIDS," he added.

Atuk also said that he once encountered a male undergraduate who entered the sex trade to make money.

In another instance, Atuk had come across a married soldier who doubled as a sex worker to supplement his income.

"He told me his salary was not enough," Atuk said.

Extending Assistance

While serving the PT Foundation, the largest community-based organization that provides outreach for HIV high risk groups in Kuala Lumpur, Atuk noted that his outreach work was aimed at male sex workers.  According to Atuk, he meets them and explains the dangers of their activities. He gives them advice on preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), including HIV/AIDS.

The male sex workers are provided with free condoms. Atuk is quite critical of the fact that male sex workers are ignored and that not much effort is made to help them.

"I see their problem in the wider perspective. If he is HIV positive, what is the effect to his partner? If he is sharing needles and contracts Hepatitis C, what is the effect on his children, wife?

"We are aware that wives are increasingly contracting HIV from their husbands.

"In the context of HIV prevention, we can advise them to take precautions to protect themselves from STDs, including HIV.

"After taking our advice, and if they decide to turn a new leaf, that is really good, great," noted Atuk.

Disease Risk

Atuk said that some male sex workers had a false notion that they were not at risk of contracting diseases.

"Moreover, some may have left the trade but may not know that they have contracted diseases," he said.

"You can't see the HIV symptoms immediately. It took me seven or eight years to see the symptoms. I believe I was first infected with HIV 17 years ago due to my way of life. But only in 1996, was I confirmed as being HIV positive," he said.

Atuk also fears that many may know that they have the disease but opt to keep it a secret and continue with their trade.
Returning to the Right Path

 

Atuk feels it is never too late to get back on the right track. Youths, he said, are highly inquisitive in nature and need proper guidance from parents to stay away from negative behavior. Atuk gave liquor as an example.

"In Kedah, I have seen teens 17 and 18 years of age gulp beer from bottles wrapped in newspaper while driving.

"So whatever we try at the young age, if they are not good, it is best not to try it in the first place.

"Seek knowledge to find the right path. Don't look for the wrong path.

"I believe when we join the good group we will be good. If we are in the bad group, we will become bad too," he stressed.

Kredit: WikiSabah 

Sila baca selanjutnya → Betol-betol Hangat! Facts About Malaysia’s Male Sex Workers

Betol-betol Sengal! Wordless Wednesday: Seksi tak aku?

 

Kredit pic: ohduniaku.com

Sila baca selanjutnya → Betol-betol Sengal! Wordless Wednesday: Seksi tak aku?