Gerakan and parties that believe that women candidates need to be sexy, should open a modelling agency instead, said Amanah Youth vice chief Shazni Munir.

"Parliament and the state assemblies are not catwalks. If political parties are starting to think that way, then it is better for them to dissolve the party and open a modelling agency," Shazni told Malaysiakini.

Shazni joins a chorus of politicians expressing outrage at Gerakan's legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh's proposal for the party to field young and sexy women in the next general elections.

'Shallow and sexist'

Damansara Utama assemblyperson Yeo Bee Yin said Baljit's remarks were shallow and outright sexist.

"Election is not about sexy young women, it is a very serious matter; it is about the country's wellbeing and on what foundations we want to build our nation, such as clean governance, democracy, social and economic justice.

"He should apologise and go through gender sensitivity training," Yeo told Malaysiakini.

Senator and PKR Srikandi chief Aishah Shaik Ismail echoed similar sentiments, adding that it was rude and insulting to women.

"This shows how immature Gerakan is, and how desperate they are for victory," she said.

Women, she said, should be made candidates because they can carry a mission and vision for the country's future.

Baljit had made the remarks at the Gerakan annual general assembly in Kuala Lumpur earlier today.

He suggested that this would be a better idea than fielding old men in seats which the party were sure to lose.

'Insulting to men, too'

Meanwhile Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia pro-tem committee member Syed Saddiq said the comments were not only insulting to women, but men as well.

"It says men are not attracted to the human intellect, but to women's sexiness," he said, adding that Baljit's remarks showed how little Gerakan valued women.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok meanwhile in a statement, said Baljit's statement implied that "voters are a bunch of fools who can be cheated by the look of women candidates, without regard to their abilities and national issues".

Kepong Puteri Umno chief Hazrene Begum said "sexy" was not the right word to use, and was not in line with the views of the country's youths.

"The most important thing in politics is knowledge... They should be winnable candidates and not be judged based on their looks and appear cheap," she said.

Federal Territories Youth chief Razlan Rafii was more guarded in his response, suggesting that the Gerakan man may have been taking a swipe at DAP, which, he said, was known for "using women to attract youths."

However, he said young women should not be made candidates "based on their looks", but because BN needs representation by youths.