While PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail should not be stopped from becoming Selangor menteri besar because of menstrual issues, Wanita MCA said today that Selangorians must consider her "puppet" status.

 

Its head Heng Seai Kie made a statement today slamming Umno lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun as a male chauvinist for saying that a woman may not be a menteri besar because of "uzur syarie", which carries the meaning of menses and confinement after birth. 

 

Heng (right) said such remarks were unfair but added she did not think Wan Azizah would make a good menteri besar anyway.

 

"More importantly, would she be given a free hand to rule?" she queried.

"Based on her previous track record, it is more probable that she will only serve as a puppet to be manipulated by PKR de facto chief and husband Anwar Ibrahim for his own personal political agenda."

Meanwhile, other women politicians also bashed Hafarizam for his comments as reported in the New Straits Times yesterday.

 

Wanita Gerakan leader Tan Lian Hoe and DAP parliamentarian Teo Nie Ching both demanded that Hafarizam apologise to all women.

 

Tan said Hafarizam's remarks were a faux pas of sexism and gender discrimination.

 

"Hafarizam must retract his sexist remarks and offer an unreserved apology over his sexual bigotry," she said in a statement.

 

Teo also took Hafarizam to task for saying that a nation led by a woman could not prosper. She cited that Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz has been globally praised for her leadership.

 

"As a matter of fact, not all countries led by men are prosperous. Many male leaders have also brought misery to their own people. So why discriminate against women?" Teo said.

 

Federal Territory MIC women leader Kogilam Suppiah meanwhile urged the government to act against all forms of discrimination based on gender.

 

"Discrimination against women obstructs the participation of women in politics, social, cultural and economic growth of our country in achieving a developed nation status by 2020," she said.

'Both sides must affirm a woman can be MB'

 

Meanwhile Penang state executive councillor Chong Eng wants both the ruling and opposition coalitions to state that a woman can be menteri besar.

 

Chong Eng ( left ), who is the head of women’s wing in DAP, said today that the Selangor constitution does not prohibit a woman from becoming menteri besar.

 

"All parties should respect the law and not to resort to any excuse preventing woman from filling the post," she said in a statement.

 

The Padang Lalang assemblywoman said in the past, people were ignorant on the relation between menses and giving birth to the next generation. 

 

"Hence there are taboos and misunderstandings. If educated people in modern times still resort to use such misconceptions to prevent women from assuming high positions, this contradicts eliminating all forms of discrimination against women, as stated in international conventions and endorsed by Malaysia’s government," she added.

 

Chong Eng also urged all political leaders regardless of their political divide, to isolate themselves from Hafarizam’s "backward and outdated belief which promotes ignorance and discrimination" against women. 

 

"A woman can be a menteri besar as long as she is supported by the people and majority of state assemblypersons," asserted the former Bukit Mertajam MP.

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