Sunday May 13, 2007

Sexist remarks becoming the norm?

By ELIZABETH LOOI

IT WAS not the first time sexist remarks were uttered in the august house.

But what irked the Opposition this time was the fact that the two backbenchers who made the remarks got off without even an apology.

What was more appalling for the DAP MPs, who left the Dewan in disgust and anger, was that Barisan Nasional backbenchers cheered and thumped the tables when their colleagues escaped unscathed as if sanctioning what the two did.

On Wednesday, Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN – Kinabatangan) and “Close-One-Eye” Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN – Jasin), uttered a remark against Fong Poh Kuan (DAP – Batu Gajah) while they were in a heated argument over the ceiling leakage in the Parliament building.

“Mana ada bocor? Batu Gajah pun bocor tiap-tiap bulan juga (Where is the leak? The Batu Gajah MP leaks every month too),” they said.

However, Fong’s effort to appeal for justification from the House was rejected by Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib the next day on grounds that she had failed to call for a Point of Order when the incident occurred, as required by the Standing Order 26 (1)(p).

Ramli said although he was not pleased with the statement, there was nothing more he could do except to advise the MPs to be more careful with their choice of words as he was bound by the Standing Orders.

At that moment, Bung Mokhtar put both thumbs down and smiled proudly at the opposition MPs amidst loud cheers.

While Tan Kok Wai (DAP – Cheras) repeatedly shouted “Shame! Shame! Shame!”, M. Kulasegaran (DAP – Ipoh Barat), who stood up together with other DAP MPs to protest against Ramli’s decision, said Bung Mokhtar and Mohd Said behaved as if they did not have mothers and daughters.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang described the two MPs as male chauvinists, saying that they should not be allowed in the house.

While some Barisan MPs did not think that the remark was offensive, a few others disagreed, especially women MPs, including a senator.

The women MPs even said they would have supported Fong’s motion if they were there, as it was not a party issue but a gender issue.

Datuk Tan Lian Hoe (BN – Bukit Gantang) said: “Men parliamentarians should have respect for women MPs”.

Tan Ah Eng (BN – Gelang Patah) said they owed the women MPs an apology.

“As the people’s representatives, we always say dewan yang mulia (the august house), so we should keep our respect,” she said, adding that she was personally offended by the remark.

Senator Datuk Rhina Bhar said she was disgusted and ashamed, adding that the statement was “terribly wrong”.

“The motion should have been allowed. If he (Bung Mokhtar) was a gentleman, he would have apologised,” said Rhina, who was there for the Dewan Negara sitting.

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (BN – Kota Baru) said the statement was not only derogatory but an affront to basic decency.

“You don’t talk like that about women. They should have been reprimanded,” he said, adding that similar statements would come up again unless those in power took action.

Zaid was right that the MPs would never repent, as a similar statement was also made in 1995 by Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin (BN – Jerai), who was then the MP for Yan.

Badruddin, who came under fire and then later apologised outside the Dewan, had remarked that Lim’s debate was like wanita putus haid (a woman reaching menopause).

Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN – Johor Baru) said such a statement should not have been made in the first place but he seemed to think that Fong had blown it up out of proportion by making it into a national issue, instead of just a personal attack.

“I sympathise with the two DAP ladies (Fong and Teresa Kok (DAP – Seputeh) but they should have sought an apology and not politicise the issue,” he said.

The issue has definitely become more than just a personal attack, as Lim had posted it on his blog and a video footage of the incident on YouTube.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, however, commented that Fong should not have overreacted as MPs enjoyed the immunity to speak about anything in the House.

“Politicians must be able to take criticism and be thick-skinned about it,” he said.

But Zaid disagreed and said the immunity given to MPs was not meant to allow them to ridicule anyone.

“It is to give freedom to MPs so that they are not fearful to say the right thing about policies for the good of the country,” he said.

That was certainly not the first sexist remark made in the Dewan. In April last year, Abdul Fatah Harun (PAS – Rantau Panjang) said women divorcees are gatal (randy). And not too long ago, Badruddin blamed women who wear “indecent clothes” for rape.

In 2000, Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN – Sri Gading) touched a raw nerve when he started his speech by saying “it is unusual for women’s issues to be touched (raised) by men” and after a pause, he added: “But women are supposed to be touched by men.”

All these remarks saw heated objections.

The sittings last week were an extension of the March 19 to April 26 meeting for Parliament to deliberate on several important bills like the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Employees Provident Fund amendments.

The Dewan was adjourned sine dine on Thursday.

News Poll

Latest Jobs from Star-Jobs

Latest from StarProperty