Get this. Malaysia's Department of Broadcasting (RTM) recently produced a film about a transgender who repents after enrolling herself in an Islamic school.

The film titled, Demi Tuhan Aku Bersaksi (Fod God's Sake I Testify) instead has received brickbats from - and here's the kicker: Hardline Muslims.

Apparently "critics" weren't happy about the film's negative portrayal of tahfiz schools. Tahfiz schools are tiny schools where young Muslim Malays enrol to memorize the Quran.

The film is to air on RTM 1. IMAGE: Sinar Harian

What's more, the filmmakers were also accused of promoting LGBTQ. These groups also urged Malaysia's federal Islamic agency Jakim and the National Fatwa Council to vet the film before it is screened.

“Their action has spread hatred and inflamed the anger of certain race and religion,” a spokesperson for the Islamic Education NGO Action Committee was quoted by the Malay Mail as saying.

The producer for the film Fadzil Zahari has come out to deny these accusations.

“The drama is not promoting LGBT, but instead is about the journey of a ‘mak nyah’ who repents and finds a way to get closer to God. The place (she) headed for to better (herself) is a tahfiz school,” Fadzil had said to Malay tabloid Kosmo!.

In case you're wondering, “Mak nyah” is the local term for a transwoman.

'Demi Tuhan Aku Bersaksi' has been slammed for being pro-LGBTQ. IMAGE: NTH Qibord

Produced by Prokuya Studios, the film tells the story about a "former transwoman" who enrols herself in a tahfiz school but ends up getting harassed instead.

Malaysia has been in the limelight in recent years due to the rise in crimes against transgender people. In 2018, a transgender woman had several of her bones broken after eight men assaulted her.

Cover image sourced from Malaysiakini.