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The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will not support the marriages of those who have undergone sex change operations as it is illegal.

Its minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil however said the ministry could provide other forms of assistance like counselling to them without prejudice.

She was commenting on the marriage between Jessie Chung, who was born a male but became a female through a sex change operation, with her Ipoh beau Joshua Beh in Kuching, Sarawak last Saturday.

Chung, whose original name was Jeffrey, underwent three major surgeries in the last three years to become a woman.

Elaborating, Shahrizat said the country's laws do not recognise marriages between men even though one partner had undergone a sex change.

But, that did not mean the ministry would neglect them, she added

"They can seek help and in fact, the ministry has assisted families facing sexual identity conflict involving their children," she was quoted as saying by Bernama.

However, she said only a few transvestites had sought advice from the ministry.

Sensitive issue

Shahrizat said this "gender problem" was too sensitive to be discussed openly but it required an in-depth study, more so after this marriage in Kuching.

She added that her ministry would probably launch a study with the collaboration of universities to identify why more men were becoming interested in being women.

Chung’s marriage was blessed by the Charismatic Church and presided over by pastors from three other churches.

The couple reportedly spent over RM1 million on their wedding.

Chung, in her 30s, is a successful entrepreneur and singer who has released two Chinese-language albums.

Yesterday, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Tan Chai Ho also said that the marriage had no legal standing.