MCA has hit out at the Kelantan state government for banning women from going to the stage where Muay Thai fights are held.

Its vice-president Chew Mei Fun said the “sexist” PAS government has once again prevented the progress of women in the sport industry.

She said the new regulations will only further hinder the development of women in the state.

She was commenting on the announcement of the ban by the state’s local government, housing and sports committee chairperson Abdul Fattah Mahmood as quoted by the New Straits Times today.

Apart from mandating that Muay Thai fighters cover their aurat, Chew said the instruction on banning women from going on stage was “too broad and sweeping”.

“(It) overwhelmingly discriminates against women sports officials, besides discouraging women from taking up the traditional male domain of boxing as a sport,” Chew said in a statement today.

She questioned the difference between a raised platform to compete and martial arts on the floor like taekwondo and karate.

“In fact, women sportspersons are also prevented from becoming coaches as coaches will need to be in regular communication with their trainees,” she said.

As such, Chew questioned whether the ban will be extended to stage performances like theatres, orchestras, choral reading and choir as well.

“This being the case, then from childhood, primary school pupils will also be denied the possibility of performing during the school’s annual concert,” she said, citing how the then PAS-led Kedah state government had outlawed female artistes from stage performances in January 2013.

As kickboxing is a very physical contact sports that would require medical attention, Chew said female doctors, nurses and health workers would be prevented from entering the ring to tend to the injured exponent.

“For female doctors in particular, this ruling pits them against their Hippocratic Oath which they had sworn upon during their student days to heal the sick and uphold medical ethics,” she said.