Cabinet to debate MPs' sexist remark

The Straits Times, May 16, 2007


KUALA LUMPUR - TWO male lawmakers' comment last week about an opposition female MP's menstrual cycle has landed them in really hot water.

Today, Malaysia's Cabinet will discuss their remark, which has angered Malaysia's women leaders.

The male MPs, Datuk Mohammad Said Yusof and Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, are from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Last Tuesday, in response to opposition female MP Fong Poh Kuan's comments in Parliament about roof leaks in Parliament House, they said Ms Fong 'leaked every month too'.

But despite Ms Fong's subsequent motion in Parliament to censure them, Parliament Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib declined to do so, saying she had not filed her motion quickly enough.

Asked later by Malaysia's China Press whether he would apologise, Datuk Mohd Said retorted: 'What is there to apologise for? I did not mean to offend her or other women.'

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who called the remark 'dirty', said the honourable thing to do was apologise, and added that she will urge Parliament to use 'gender-sensitive language' in the Cabinet meeting today.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK