Malaysian women suffer from guilty pangs when they participate in sports, a situation brought about by culture and religion, said Youth and Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said today.

"From our survey, (we found that) if women play sports, they feel guilty." she told the Dewan Rakyat during the question-and-answer session.

"So it is the mentality of the women that matters," she added in her reply to a supplementary question from Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam).

Chong had wanted to know the reasons that discourage women from taking part in sports.

Explaining further, Azalina said: "Actually (the factor) that stops most women from (getting involved in) sports are women themselves because they are worried they will be criticised - maybe from the perspective of culture or religion, women don't feel comfortable."

On the same note, she stressed that the government had never practiced gender discrimination. She also called on men to encourage their wives, girlfriends and daughters to get involved in sports.

Sukan Wanita

As for the government's rationale in organising the RM5 million Sukan Wanita, Azalina said it was aimed at encouraging more women to become involved in sports and should not be seen as discriminating.

According to her, women faced problems in sporting activities like swimming where they need to apply to the local councils to allow only women to use a particular pool on certain days.

Replying to another parliamentary question raised by Badruddin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai), Azalina agreed that women excelled in certain types of sports such as squash and bowling.

"Certain sports like football or rugby, it will be more difficult due to their body size, the way she runs and sometimes the 'burden' she carries with her," she said to laughter from the House.

In another development, the government is seeking Parliament's approval for an additional RM10.15 billion allocation for its expenditures last year - on top of the RM117.4 billion allocation provided for under Budget 2005.

Finance Ministry's parliamentary secretary Hilmi Yahya tabled the Supplementary Supply (2005) Bill 2006 for its first reading in the House today. The bill is scheduled for its second and third readings during the current sitting.

ontribution to statutory funds' amounting to RM8.56 billion topped the list of the additional allocations sought. This was followed by the Defence Ministry and Education Ministry that are seeking RM681.7 million and RM347.3 million respectively.