Parliament kicked off this week with a furor over a sexist remark made by a male government official over the marital status of one of its female members.

The day started rather gloomily but Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh), one of the two single female MPs * , was exceptionally chirpy in the august House today. Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) is the other single female MPs.

One could hear Kok uttering 'snide' remarks everytime a deputy minister or parliament secretary stood up to answer questions from the floor.

What she did not expect, however, was her marital status to become the focal point of contention during the house's question-and-answer session.

Distracted by Kok

It all began when parliament secretary to the Education Ministry Mahadzir Mohd Khir took his place to reply to a question by Komala Devi M Perumal (BN-Kapar), who asked how efforts are being made to improve English fluency in local schools compared to those in European countries.

Mahadzir barely stood up to reply but was distracted by Kok who was heard uttering a muffled comment.

"Who is disturbing me?....Seputeh (MP) please don't disturb me. I hope you can control yourself. When I stand up to answer, you are waving your hands... ngongeng...ngongeng ," Mahadzir said, visibly annoyed by Kok's action.

The matter would have been laid to rest had it not been for a voice murmuring somewhere amid the backbenchers: " Ini masalah orang belum kahwin (This is an unmarried person's problem)".

Mahadzir should know better than to echo the remark but he did and at this juncture, the house burst into laughter.

His remark prompted Kok, whose marital status was in question, to launch an attack demanding that he withdrew the statement which she considered "inappropriate for this honourable House".

At this point, Speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail intervened, asking while laughing "What is it that is not appropriate?"

Many divorced in House

Another female MP, Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) rose to the speaker's challenge and tried to defend Kok but her voice was lost in the frenzy.

Not wanting to be outdone, Kok countered Mahadzir: "Many here are divorced, some have more than two or three wives."

"Enough, please don't be angry. I am asking the parliament secretary to withdraw the remark (not married yet)," said Mohamed, trying to pacify the visibly angry MP.

In an attempt to wriggle out of the unpleasant situation, Mahadzir said he did not know what to withdraw.

"I have not even replied, what is it that I am asked to withdraw?" he queried but caved in when Mohamed repeated that he withdraws the sexist comment anyway.

The last word

"Oh, if you do not like it, I will withdraw but I want to wish you a Happy Wedding Day if you are planning to get married," Mahadzir told Kok, seizing the last word on the matter.

Male MPs, much to the chagrin of their female counterparts, are proned to such sexist comments despite being reprimanded verbally time and again by the speaker.

Over the years, women's groups such as Women's Agenda for Change, have also called for more gender sensitive treatment of female politicians but their proposals seem to have fallen on deaf ears, as male politicians continue to harass women with their suggestive comments.

Perhaps, Chong Eng's recent proposal that male MPs undergo a gender sensitisation course could not come at a better time.

* Correction: It has been pointed out that there are three single female MPs in the Parliament, the third being Chew Mei Fun (MCA-PJ Utara). We apologise for the factual error.