{
  "id": 4802943,
  "title": "Religious affairs minister pans Malaysian’s entry in Thai trans pageant",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/religious-affairs-minister-pans-malaysians-entry-in-thai-trans-pageant",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T05:18:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/01/religious-affairs-ministry-pans-malaysian-s-entry-in-thai-trans-pageant"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PETALING JAYA: Religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan has criticized a Malaysian participant in an international transgender beauty pageant held in Thailand last Sunday. The minister stated that the contestant had damaged Malaysia's image and violated Islamic teachings. The contestant, who participated as the opposite sex, engaged in a lifestyle that the minister deemed haram. Zulkifli's comments came following a brief video showing the contestant winning the Best National Costume award at the pageant in Bangkok. The minister emphasized that neither religious authorities nor the Malaysian government endorsed or recognized such participation in pageants. He urged the public to refrain from sensationalizing or glorifying actions that contradict Islamic law, emphasizing the need to uphold moral and religious values. Additionally, Zulkifli mentioned that religious authorities would collaborate with relevant enforcement agencies to investigate potential legal action. It is worth noting that Shariah laws in all 13 Malaysian states prohibit Muslim men from dressing as women.",
  "summary": "Religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan says the participation tarnishes the country's image and violates Islamic teachings.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}