The transsexual community in Malaysia faces numerous forms of human rights violations, including the loss of civil and political rights, social and economic discrimination, prejudice, isolation, and exclusion, both from state and non-state actors.

For example, a study conducted by academician Teh Yik Koon in 2001 of over 500 mak nyah (a term coined and acceptable to the male-to-female transsexual community) showed that about 50 percent of the interviewees had been arrested by the police at least once, and at least five percent had been arrested 10 times or more.

Their 'crime' is often the catch-all offence of 'indecent behaviour', an arbitrary 'offence' that leaves a large amount of discretionary powers with the officers who conduct raids and arrests.