I was trying very hard to understand both points of view and completely empathised with Marina, but the fact of the matter was that she did not have the name of her rapist. Both cops had taken off their badges, they were off-duty and could have been from any of the police stations in KL. There was no case. Sumi was right. Marina had no case.

If you go to report this, you are going to be marked. Cops will mark you, and because you work on the streets, because you are a trans sex worker, they can arrest you under Section 28 for dressing as a woman. However, if this happened, then you would have a case.

What? Marina looked utterly confused. What do you mean?

Kak Su was shaking her head and took a long drag of her cigarette. So many cases dah macam ni. The trans community has no rights, we have no rights at all. We are not human beings to them.

Marina continued and waved her right hand. Wait! So you mean, if I am arrested as a man for dressing as a woman, I can fight?

Sumi reiterated: Only if they rape you again. In the lock-up, or whatever. Then you can make a case against the police. Police brutality.

Kak Su continued. Some more, because we are Muslim, Section 28 is under Syariah Law, not Civil Law, and that is even more complicated.

I kept quiet. I could almost see the wheels turning in Marina’s mind. She had started pacing quickly, almost tripping on a plastic bag of more files on the floor.

So now you’re saying that I shouldn’t make a police report. But if I am arrested for cross-dressing, then at least I am on record and if I am in the lock-up and if I am raped again… then I can do something?

Sumi said quietly. Yup.

Okay, then. Okay. Marina picked up her handbag, bent down and stubbed out her cigarette in the pink metal ashtray, which was already full of butts. Have to work, bye! And thanks for the info. She looked at Sumi and me, forced a smile and walked out of the office.

Sumi and I looked at each other. Kak Su shook her head and said, Ala, give her time. She will realise after a while that there is no point. As long as she can work, she will realise that it’s better than being in the lock-up. It’s the most horrible place. Full of bed bugs, the floor is always wet, you sleep on cardboard. Kak Su shuddered. No food. No water. Been in and out so many times. Like that lah. What to do?

His name was Pete.