Bar Council human rights committee co-chairperson Andrew Khoo has flayed International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed for making allegedly sexist remarks at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) townhall session today.

He said Mustapa should apologise to all women for his remarks, which he described as highly derogatory to women and smacks of gender insensitivity.

“It reveals a degree of gender insensitivity that is shocking for a cabinet minister. I think he should apologise to the women in this country for making this kind of statement,” Khoo (photo) told reporters at the sidelines of the session.

The session was held this morning at the Ministry of Trade and Industry's (Miti) new headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, dubbed Menara Miti.

Mustapa kicked off the session by welcoming the participants to his ministry's new headquarters and apologised for any shortcomings.

In doing so however, he compared the building to a new bride, and the ministry's former headquarters to a boring old marriage.

“So for these weaknesses, we apologise because we just got married yesterday. Still a virgin; not used to it.

“Before this we were at Jalan Duta for 30 years. After a long time, got divorced and remarried.

“Thirty years in Jalan Duta. It has been a long, long time, so it got boring, fed up, so we moved here. Today is the first day,” he said, prompting laughter from the audience.

He, however, apologised for making the remark in a statement later that day.

He said he holds women in high regard and has learnt his lesson.

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