Pecah Lobang goes to Johor Bahru 13 September

See you in Johor Bahru! Hope our friends in Singapore can join us too.

Johor Bahru (13 Sept. 2008) - 8:00 p.m.
Tropical Inn Johor Bahru
15 Jalan Gereja
80100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 07-224 7888

Please make reservations by sending an e-mail to: freedomfilmfest@gmail.com

State screening date, time and number of tickets in e-mail. You will need to arrive by 7:30 p.m. to collect your free tickets.

Pecah Lobang screening Q&A — Why I didn’t answer several questions

Firstly, thank you so much for coming to the screening. I’m really glad that so many of you, especially those from the Mak Nyah community decided to support the documentary.

I’m sorry that I didn’t answer several questions about how I feel and where I want the issue to go. It’s not that I don’t have an opinion or am not informed.

It’s just that as a journalist, I strongly feel that it’s not my place to publicly talk about my opinion.

It’s about the Mak Nyahs, the religious officials, the registrar and the police. Ask them what they think and how they feel.

And ask yourself those same questions now that you’ve watched “Pecah Lobang,” and share them so that we all grow together.

Pertama sekali, saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kerana hadir ke tayangan perdana “Pecah Lobang.” Saya amat terharu apabila ramai daripada anda, terutamanya daripada komuniti mak nyah telah berkeputusan untuk menyokong dokumentari ini.

Saya juga ingin memohon maaf kerana tidak menjawab beberapa soalan tentang ke mana saya ingin membawa isu ini. Walau bagaimanapun, itu tidak bermakna saya tidak mempunyai pendapat saya sendiri.

Sebaliknya, sebagai seorang wartawan saya merasakan bahawa saya tidak patut mencampur-adukkan pendapat saya dengan laporan saya.

Dokumentari ini adalah mengenai komuniti Mak Nyah, penguatkuasa agama, Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara serta pihak polis. Segala soalan harus ditujukan kepada mereka.

Kemudian, tanyakan soalan-soalan tersebut kepada diri anda sendiri dan kongsikan pendapat anda dengan masyarakat. Harapan saya adalah supaya kita akan matang bersama-sama dengan perkongsian itu.

Important: Ticket reservations for Pecah Lobang

Please send FFF coordinator Elaine Foster an e-mail to make reservations for the screening of “Pecah Lobang.”

Her e-mail address is: freedomfilmfest@gmail.com

State in your e-mail the screening date, time that you would like to attend. Please be advised that you need to claim your free ticket at least 20 minutes before each screening.

Many thanks and see you Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

NTV7 — Pecah Lobang director on Mak Nyahs, expectations and the Freedom Film Fest

Part 1 - NTV7’s The Breakfast Show

Part 2

Pecah Lobang live on NTV7’s Breakfast Show tomorrow, Tuesday

The Freedom Film Fest winners will be on NTV7’s Breakfast Show tomorrow, Tuesday around 8:30 to 10 a.m.

I’m not sure what to expect. Hope they’ll show a sneak of “Pecah Lobang.”

Glad the show is live.

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The Star (Malaysia) — Talk, don’t condemn Mak Nyahs

A full colour page on Independence Day!

I didn’t write about gangs in Miami though. “Gospel versus Gangs” was written in Columbus, Ohio. :P

Photo by Glenn Guan/The Star

By TIONG KEAN KOK

TENG Poh Si doesn’t shy away from tackling controversial issues head-on. Take, for instance, her winning proposal for the Freedom Film Festival (FFF) 2008 that delves into the lives and plight of Muslim transsexual sex workers.

You cannot help but admire the young woman (she is only 24) for having the guts to deal with not just one but two subjects – sex and religion – that are often shoved back into the closet by the powers-that-be for being “too sensitive”.

“I don’t think it is sensitive,” she announces right up front when we met recently. “If the status quo sees it that way then maybe it is time to reflect and question that status quo”… read more at The Star.

Random photos from Pecah Lobang

A former Muslim transsexual sex worker with one her boyfriends:
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Photo from Dr. Teh Yik Koon’s “The Mak Nyahs: Malaysian Male to Female Transsexuals.” Read More »

Sneak: Pecah Lobang — Muslim transsexual sex workers, Malaysia

Or if you prefer YouTube:

Pecah Lobang at the 2008 Malaysian Freedom Film Fest

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Catch “Pecah Lobang” at the 2008 Malaysian Freedom Film Fest. There will be a panel discussion after each screening. See the schedule here.