PUTRAJAYA: Genderwise “Nur Sajat” or Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman is still a man as stated on his identity card (IC), says Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary.

       The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) said in Malaysia, the gender of every individual was based on the information stated on the IC.

       “His gender is what is stated in the IC (issued) in our country. That is what we use. The identity card is a valid document in this country to determine his gender.

       “Whichever country or place he chooses to determine his gender, we do not interfere,” he told reporters after launching a book titled Manual Komuniti Hijrah yesterday, Bernama reported.

       On Tuesday, Nur Sajat shared a post on Instagram, saying that she had legally changed her gender status to a woman in Australia.

       She is being pursued by authorities in Malaysia after an arrest warrant was issued following her failure to appear in court to face charges for dressing as a woman at the Shah Alam Syariah High Court.

       In June last year, police sought Nur Sajat to help in an investigation into a fraud case involving a change of identity card information at the Ampang Jaya court.

       On the High Court decision lifting the ban on the distribution of controversial book Gay is OK! A Christian Perspective, Ahmad Marzuk said he hoped the Home Ministry would appeal the decision.