Plans to open Tongziland, the world's first homosexual theme park, have been given a green light by Malaysian authorities. Scheduled to open in 2009, the adults-only amusement park will rise in Johor Bahru, in view of neighboring Singapore.

Spokesmen Tang En Chee of Same Joy PTE, Ltd., the Malaysian/Hong Kong joint venture which is funding the project, says that government licensing has been granted to transform a 120,000 square meter area of landfill into a full-featured, world-class recreation and entertainment tourist attraction. Local businesses hope the park will attract the lucrative pink dollar from affluent gay travelers from the around the region and Australia.

Malaysian tourism spokesman, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, citing the success of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras which has become Australia's leading tourist attraction, said "We are excited and already planning to offer a special shuttle service from Singapore for tourists who would enjoy spending the day at the gay park and an evening or two in our gay-friendly hotels here in Johor Bahru."

Organizers have been working closely with the government to revise Malaysia's colonial-era anti-sodomy laws to permit homosexual social interaction within the park's boundaries. A Health Ministry "Safer Sex Tourism Kit" with map of Malaysia's other gay attractions will be developed to emphasize that the nation has "a lot more than just a gay theme park" to offer homosexuals on a daily basis.

Preliminary designs for the park call for an authentic Chinese dynastic palace throne room populated by animatronic figures of famous gay Emperors and their favorites, a branch of Osaka's Takarazaku all-female theatrical extravaganza, a Thai-themed sports complex with transgender kick-boxing arena and Iron Ladies volleyball court, Cinderfella's Enchanted Castle sauna, an Old West themed Lesbian Round-up, and the 10-story tall Tower of Pride with rotating disco and high-powered lasers.

S. M. Lee, a local hawker operating across from the planned construction site has already hung up a sign advertising "chicken gay pot" on his vendor stand. "Lesbian laksa lemak also got!" added Madame Lee.

-- Rueters