PKR has blasted Batang Kali Umno rep’s sexist remark at the Selangor state assembly yesterday as not just an insult to exco member Elizabeth Wong but to all women in Malaysia.

“Referring to the Batang Kali rep’s sexist statement ... Mohd Isa Abu Kasim’s statement is completely insensitive towards the feelings of women and has insulted mothers, children, female children, wives and all the women in Malaysia.

critical thinking lecture series 2 050607 chua yee ling “I am very disappointed with the Batang Kali assemblyperson, as Elizabeth Wong was in the process of answering charges brought up by Mohd Isa on the encroachment of the Templer Park forest reserves,” said PKR Wanita council member Chua Yee Ling ( right) in a statement today.

She said that Wong had answered Mohd Isa’s question professionally, “supported by facts and strong arguments”.

At the state assembly proceedings yesterday, Mohd Isa made a crude remark at Wong saying, “I am very happy the exco (Wong) is continuing to look after forest reserves to prevent encroachment, but don’t do this to the extent of neglecting to look after your own ‘forest."

To which Wong tactfully responded, "Just now he (Mohd Isa) tried to be naughty. Never mind, this is Umno-BN's character, we are already aware of it, no need to answer. You and I know."

"Never mind, if you want to insult women, go ahead. This is Umno-BN " she added.

Meanwhile, Chua said that this was not the first time a BN representative had come out with sexist and vulgar statements at parliament and state assembly sessions which had developed into a habit.

She cited a parliamentary session in 2007 when Umno Kinabatangan MP Bung Mokhtar uttered a similarly vulgar remark on the issue of a leaky parliament building raised by Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan saying, "Where is the leak? Batu Gajah (MP) leaks every month, too.

NONE In a 2010 parliamentary session Minister in Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz also indulged himself in  similar fashion when he called opposition MPs " anak betina (little girls)", a derogatory term linking the female gender with weakness and cowardice.

Chua said the Batang Kali representative has not only humiliated himself but has also clearly shown the mentality of Umno BN representatives, describing them as "rude and mindless".

"I hope that all representatives including the parliament members and assemblyperson must respect women and not belittle the sexist remark as a petty joke.

"In this case, the Batang Kali assemblyperson must apologise right away," she added.

She also said that if Mohd Isa refuses to apologise to all the women in Malaysia, especially to those in Selangor, then the state's exco for women's affairs Rodziah Ismail must refer him to the rights and privileges committee.

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