Harapan women MPs take minister to task for unsatisfactory answers
PARLIAMENT | At least three Pakatan Harapan women lawmakers in Parliament today took Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun to task for her unsatisfactory answers on issues they raised during the ministry's committee stage budget debate.
Hannah Yeoh (Harapan-Segambut), Kasthuri Patto (Harapan-Batu Kawan) and Teo Nie Ching (Harapan-Kulai) were among 11 MPs who debated the ministry's RM2.584 billion allocation under the Supply (Budget) Bill 2021.
PARLIAMENT | At least three Pakatan Harapan women lawmakers in Parliament today took Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun to task for her unsatisfactory answers on issues they raised during the ministry's committee stage budget debate.
Hannah Yeoh (Harapan-Segambut), Kasthuri Patto (Harapan-Batu Kawan) and Teo Nie Ching (Harapan-Kulai) were among 11 MPs who debated the ministry's RM2.584 billion allocation under the Supply (Budget) Bill 2021.
On the ministry's spending for communication, Yeoh questioned a purported move to end an online child sexual crime awareness campaign that the previous Harapan administration initiated in partnership with Google.
"Why was the programme to air five short sexual crime awareness videos on 'safe touch and bad touch' together with Google terminated?
"According to statistics, from June 21, 2019, to Dec 11, 2019, a total of 4.27 million views, 9.34 million impressions and 120,000 clicks were recorded," said the former women, family and community deputy minister.
Rina in her winding-up speech, however, claimed that no order was issued to end the campaign.
She also insisted that the ministry had continued to promote awareness videos in partnership with the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, which were not only targeted towards children but also persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Yeoh pointed out that the awareness campaign had targeted children below six-years-old and a partnership with Google had allowed the videos to be aired as YouTube advertisements on most popular series, including Baby Shark.
"Because our target group is young children, they don't watch the usual corporate videos.
"Like how the minister answered about a partnership with the Communications and Multimedia Ministry," she told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Yeoh also questioned whether an allocation approved for 30 volunteers under the National Welfare Foundation were channelled to Bersatu Women members.
Rina, who is the wing's head, insisted that their political affiliations were not taken into consideration in selecting the volunteers who are eligible to claim up to RM1,000 in monthly allowance.
Meanwhile, Kasthuri had questioned the ministry's commitment to table the Sexual Harassment Bill first mooted during Harapan's administration.
"This is your duty; this is your job.
"Our duty as the opposition is to remind you (of it) but it is your job to push for it," said Kasthuri in a heated exchange with Rina, who insisted the draft bill was still with the Attorney-General's Chambers and will be tabled by next year.
Rina had in July reportedly said the bill was expected to be tabled during the current Parliament session.
Teo also demanded Rina clarify Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's reported promise to increase welfare aid from the Welfare Department by up to RM1,000.
Rina initially ignored Teo's question but finally conceded to provide an answer in writing.
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