Haters don't bother me, says Nisha Ayub

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian transgender rights activist Nisha Ayub (pic) says she will ignore the scathing criticism she has been receiving online after being placed in BBC’s list of 100 most inspiring and influential women.

Speaking live on Facebook on Thursday (Oct 17), she thanked the BBC for recognising issues concerning the transgender community, as well as those who sent her congratulatory messages.

“I hope this kind of international awareness will also give other trans-activists around the world an opportunity to bring up their issues.”

Nisha added that this was an acknowledgement of the transgender community’s presence throughout the world, not just Malaysia.

“For all the haters, I’ve seen some of the comments; to be honest, they don’t really bother me because I’m so immune to it.

“What’s important for me is to concentrate on all you guys out there that have given me tremendous support, and all of you out there who congratulated me, ” she said.

BBC’s annual list of the 100 most inspiring and influential women had also included US scientist Katie Bouman, Thailand’s first female monk Dhammananda Bhikkhuni and teenage Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Nisha is the only Malaysian on the list.

She was also the first transgender woman to receive the International Women of Courage Award in 2016.