opinion

"Even as women, we are not equal." This is a famous dictum used by women of different class backgrounds when they cannot see eye to eye.

Within the confines of parliament, however, it is not a question of class but political beliefs which often see a woman member being sanctioned or razzed for her arguments, 'unseemly' behaviour and even marital status.

Only last week, 28-year-old Fong Po Kuan (DAP - Batu Gajah) was censured by her older colleagues, one of them a woman, for allegedly "bringing down the dignity of the House".

Napsiah Omar (BN - Kuala Pilah) set the stage for a marathon onslaught on Fong's 'shameful' behaviour, saying she was merely offering advice as an older 'sister'.

She said Fong had tarnished the image of women by accusing speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail of "abusing his power" and "preventing parliament for carrying out its duties".

Fong had earlier went to the press to voice her objection when Zahir denied her motion to debate the scandalous tampering of the results of the Certificate in Legal Practice examinations.

Napsiah said Fong, who is also a lawyer by profession, should be duly aware of her conduct in parliament.

"If you had acted in the same manner in front of a judge, you would have been charged for contempt of court, too," the veteran woman politician told the parliament's youngest member.

Napsiah ventured to say, rather emotionally, that Fong "should not be too arrogant, proud... as a young MP, as a woman, you should learn from your mistakes and apologise".

This is necessary as the speaker, according to her, is 'supreme' in parliament.

Foul-mouthed MP

During her speech, Napsiah refused to allow Chong Eng (DAP - Bukit Mertajam) to have her say.

Chong had tried in vain to interject several times in order to challenge the self-appointed 'older sister'. The older woman, who Chong later said was her ' sifu ' (teacher) during her university days, stood her ground and continued to patronise Fong.

And where were the other women MPs?

It is almost a cliche now to say that there are different standards for men and women in all levels of society. Still, where it concerns the highest 'court' in the country, one would expect to see standards applied across the board, regardless of sex. Yet as events have shown, this is hardly the case.

Not too long ago, Bung Moktar Radin (BN - Kinabatangan) caused a minor disturbance in the House when he uttered the 'F' word. Never before in the history of parliament had an elected representative of the people acted in such a demeaning manner.

Yet, he was merely requested to withdraw his statement and apologise, which he reluctantly did after being persuaded by his colleagues in the backbenchers' club.

This begs the question: Did he not bring down the dignity of the House for uttering such profanity? Perhaps, but not enough to warrant an emergency motion to debate or recommend that he be punished.

"But if a woman MP were to have uttered this very same word, all hell would break loose," said a parliament reporter who sat through the ordeal of Bung making a fuss when he was asked to apologise.

Motion breaches justice

Which was why Fong's case appeared to have been handled in such a high-handed fashion by the 'brute' majority, said Kerk Kim Hock (DAP - Kota Melaka), who is also the party's secretary-general.

Despite several calls by Kerk to the MPs to "vote with a conscience" instead of voting according to party lines, parliament approved Fong's six-month suspension without pay by a landslide majority of 83 to28. All BN MPs voted accordingly, obeying the whip of their master.

In his fiery speech during the debate last week, Kerk said he was not pleading for leniency but justice for Fong. He said the manner in which Fong's case was dealt with "breached the laws of natural justice".

One can agree with Kerk on several points:

  • The motion to suspend Fong, proposed by de facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim on behalf of the prime minister, was allowed by Zahir himself, who is the very subject of the motion against Fong. There is obviously a conflict of interest here on Zahir's part;

  • The decision to deprive Fong of her wages for six months did not get prior approval from the Finance Ministry, which is required under the House's standing order. Even a normal employee who faces disciplinary action will not be punished until he or she goes through a proper domestic inquiry.

  • Fong was also not brought before the Committee of Privileges, an inquiry board provided under the House's standing orders. The committee is supposed to be comprised of MPs from both sides of the fence and its primary duty is to hear the case of a 'problematic' colleague. Denying Fong this right is tantamount to sentencing her even before she is found guilty; and

  • Fong's case was also discussed in Parliament before Rais moved the motion to suspend her, unlike Bung's. Fong was never given the chance to apologise or withdraw her statement, if that was all the speaker, Rais or prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had wanted.

    • Instead, as a woman and a young MP, Fong has became the sacrificial lamb to remind others to refrain from 'abusing' the House in the same manner in future.

    After all, Rais and Zahir have both said that there have been MPs who have tarnished the image of the House in the past and "we must put a stop to this".

    Code of practice

    We are also too familiar with the cliche that in general, women are sexually discriminated in a world largely dominated by men.

    In the august house, even innocuous or inconsequential details like their demeanour (mustn't be 'unwomanly') and their single status (mustn't be let loose 'out there' on their own without a man to control them) can be used as ammunition by the opposing faction to dampen their fighting spirit.

    Journalists covering parliamentary sittings have seen for themselves how female opposition MPs too often have to bear the brunt of sexist jokes and remarks from their male counterparts from the ruling party.

    It is rather disappointing to observe how the BN women MPs do not so much as budge to give their 'sisters' (to borrow Napsiah's word) a hand, let alone stand up for them in the name of 'sisterhood'. Some of the remarks made against these women are downright rude and offensive.

    This makes one wonder: Can't women set aside their political agenda and confront such degrading venom against their own kind instead of endorsing such outward show of sexual harassment - even if it is issued by someone from their own party?

    It is remarkable, though, how the MPs who get shot at, so to speak, can turn a deaf ear to such insolence, simply dismissing them as silly or childish remarks.

    One fine example is Teresa Kok (DAP - Seputeh). In her 30s and single, she is hardly spared from being reminded of her marital status by the male MPs.

    " Pergi kahwinlah (go and get married)," they often tell her in the middle of her speech in parliament. But Kok, steadfast in her duty, would 'rise above' their catcalls and continue to debate her points.

    Strangely, the 'supreme' speaker of the House does not so much as bat an eyelid upon hearing these jeers. Doesn't this amount to "bringing down the dignity" of the House, too?

    Corporate companies and factories have already implemented a code of practice to curb sexual harassment. Rude men who think nothing of attacking a woman with sexual innuendoes have had lawsuits slapped on their smug faces. Or, at least women have been able to seek legal redress towards this end, even against their employers.

    So what about the highest 'court' of the country?

    SUSAN LOONE is a member of the malaysiakini team.