Fathima Begum Syed MohideenNizam BaharomMohamed Fakhri Abu BaharinKhadijah Hasanah Abang AbdullahRafidah Hanim MokhtarZainora Daud2024-05-302024-05-302023Fathima Begum Syed Mohideen, Mokhtar, R. H. ., Nizam Baharom, Mohamed Fakhri Abu Baharin, Khadijah Hasanah Abang Abdullah, & Zainora Daud. (2023). We Find Strength in Each Other: The Psychosocial Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Malay Trans Women in Malaysia. Ulum Islamiyyah, 35(02), 50-62. https://doi.org/10.33102/uij.vol35no02.5412289-479910.33102/uij.vol35no02.541https://uijournal.usim.edu.my/index.php/uij/article/view/541/296https://oarep.usim.edu.my/handle/123456789/16115Ulum Islamiyyah The Malaysian Journal of Islamic Studies Volume 35 Issue 2 PAGE (50-62)The lockdowns or ‘movement control order’ especially during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted all walks of life in Malaysia, including the transgender community. This study aimed to explore the psychosocial impact of lockdown regulation during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on Malay trans women or Mak Nyah in a southern state in Malaysia. This is a qualitative study with semi-structured, in-depth interviews and thematic analysis. 11 local Malay trans women aged 33 to 50, participated using purposive snowball sampling, starting with a local outreach worker. Six salient, interrelated themes were identified, namely: (1) Fear of the pandemic; (2) The psychological impact of lockdown; (3) The social impact of lockdown; (4) Family as a main concern during lockdown; (5) Transgender community as a source of support; and (6) Concerns about own health. Although the lockdown had considerable psychosocial impact, the close relationship among the local trans women community has alleviated some of the hardship. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown imposed psychosocial challenges impacting Malay trans women in a southern state in Malaysia. Being in a local transgender network provided invaluable moral support, relieved loneliness and offered some solutions for financial burden during the lockdown.en-UStransgender, LGBTQ, Malaysia, psychology, emotion, COVID-19Article5062352