Women MPs are up in arms over the government's latest move to appeal the RM300,000 it has been ordered to pay a teacher for gender discrimination.

DAP's Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching said the government last Friday filed an appeal at the Shah Alam High Court for the award to be reduced after losing the case at the Court of Appeal in 2011.

School teacher Noorfadilla Ahmad Saikin had sued the government for sacking her for being pregnant.

Teo slammed the government for touting women's rights but refusing to admit that it had wronged Noorfadila.

"I urge the government and attorney-general to reconsider this appear, withdraw it and pay the poor woman.

"We can pay millions to crony companies, why can't we pay this RM300,000 to the teacher, it's unreasonable," Teo told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

Meanwhile, PKR's Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar ( right ) urged Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development Rohani Abdul Karim and her deputy Chew Mei Fun to declare their stance on the matter.

"What is your stance, are you telling me you are not going to respect the court's decision?” she said.

Nurul added that the government ought to pay what is due to Noorfadilla instead of spending on women campaign featuring the minister.

She also lauded the teacher for her courage to take the government to court for gender discrimination.

Other damages the government is appealing include RM25,000 compensation for emotion and mental distress, RM5,000 cost and the 8 percent per annum interest rate from when the case was filed in May 2010.