Malaysian religious authorities have said 1,000 ‘gender confused’ individuals have joined government ‘rehabilitation’ programs since they were started in 2010.

The director-general of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Othman Mustapha, said on Monday that only 15 to 20 people had rejected the advice given at the voluntary camps, which ‘are based on self-empowerment, spirituality and rehabilitation.’

‘However, we never insist that any party participate in the programs we offer, instead we go to the ground/promote via Facebook,’ he said in a statement.

Mustapha said the programs had raised HIV awareness, reduced stigma and strengthened the persons who joined the programs and their careers.

He added that even after the camps, many chose to continue with the spiritual program and some had made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Mustapha said he sincerely hoped the three Muslim transgender makeup artists who successfully challenged a state crossing-dress ban last week would also join the program.

‘The provision banning men from dressing as women is to prevent the development of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender practises, which clearly contradict the teachings of Islam,’ he said.

‘I would like to emphasize that the provisions are specific to Muslims and do not apply to those who are not religious.’

While LGBTI activists welcomed the court ruling, Muslim groups have reacted angrily.

Khairul Anwar Ismail, law bureau chief at Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia, said homosexuality was a ‘cancer’ and it had spread to the judicial system.

‘Today’s decision is really profane, insulting and dishonors religious institutions such as the Sharia court, the Department of State, such as the fatwa institution,’ he said in a statement.

Ismail said he feared that the ruling would be a starting point for the LGBTI community to challenge the sodomy law and demand gay marriage in the name of freedom and equality.

‘Indeed, the decision is really a virus that will destroy the world of Islam and the Islamic identity of Muslims and all religious communities in Malaysia,’ he said.

In September, Human Rights Watch called Malaysia one of the worst countries in the world to be transgender.