A parliamentary gender caucus will be proposed in order to provide an equal voice to women both inside and outside the House, said Barisan Nasional parliamentarian Tan Lian Hoe today.

Met at the sidelines of a forum in Kuala Lumpur, Tan, who is also Gerakan Wanita chief, said the caucus would serve as a platform "for us to speak on behalf of the women in Malaysia".

The forum, entitled 'Women: Awakening the Rights & Awareness Within You' was held in conjunction with the International Women's Day. It was organised by Gerakan Wanita.

Tan (right) said she will raise the proposal with Minister in Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, who oversees parliamentary affairs, and BN backbenchers' club chairperson Shahrir Samad when the Dewan Rakyat meets for its new session from Monday.

"The caucus is not only for women MPs. It should be opened to male MPs and I hope they will join. We need male (MPs) to be there to recognise women's rights and gender sensitivity," she added.

Sexist remarks

During the forum, Sisters in Islam (SIS) executive director Zainah Anwar called for the creation of a cross gender and political party caucus.

One of its primary tasks, she added, would be to keep tabs on male MPs who make sexist remarks in Parliament.

Voicing her support, Tan also called for an end to such derogatory and suggestive remarks.

"As MPs, they should respect women. Their constituents comprise women as well. So if they make such disgraceful statements, they are disgracing their women constituents," she said.

The Gerakan leader proposed that errant MPs be slapped with warning letters.

Sexist remarks have raised temperatures in the House on numerous occasions. Last March, BN backbencher Badruddin Amuiruldin had to apologise during a sitting when he wondered aloud how long his opposition counterpart Fong Po Kuan's marriage would last, should she decide to get married.

In September 2004, the sexual innuendo of 'big needle, small needle' had also sparked a furore.

Last April, male MPs were at it again over the so-called 'sexy uniforms' of Malaysia Airlines stewardesses.

Fundamental issues

Contacted later regarding the caucus, Fong said although she supported any action that would benefit women, several fundamental issues must be tackled first.

The DAP parliamentarian recalled how a caucus for women parliamentarians formed several years ago had to be abandoned due to poor response.

"It had failed after a few meetings. So the more important thing is to correct all discriminatory laws against women first," she said.

Among the other key issues raised at the forum was the lack of voice and women participation in the decision-making process in all sectors.

Several participants also noted that the lack of women legislators was also a cause for concern.

At present, women only account for 22 of the 216 parliamentarians and 19 of the 65 senators.

Renowned women activists such as Ivy Josiah (Women's Aid Organisation), Maria Chin Abdullah (Women's Development Collective) and Toni Kassim (SIS) were among those present at the forum.