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DAP Women slams use of sanitary pads in intra-party dispute
Speaking to Malaysiakini, wing chief Teo Nie Ching said that while the public display of sanitary pads has, in some civic movements, served to challenge period stigma and normalise a natural bodily function, using them as a prop for mockery has the opposite effect.
“Using sanitary pads as tools of attack...
DAP Women has hit out at the Negeri Sembilan DAP Veterans Club for using sanitary pads to ridicule a party member, condemning the act as a perpetuation of menstrual stigma.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, wing chief Teo Nie Ching said that while the public display of sanitary pads has, in some civic movements, served to challenge period stigma and normalise a natural bodily function, using them as a prop for mockery has the opposite effect.
“Using sanitary pads as tools of attack or ridicule only reinforces the shame and stigma long associated with menstruation,” she said.
The deputy communications minister pointed to the reality of period poverty, highlighting that some students are forced to skip school during their menstrual cycle due to an inability to afford sanitary products.
“And yet, here they are wasting large quantities of sanitary pads just to mock their political rivals.
“I do not agree with this,” Teo (above) said.
Yesterday, the Negeri Sembilan DAP Veterans Club slammed the state party committee for “selling out” the people of Negeri Sembilan, in protest over a senator post being awarded to an “outsider”.
At a press conference, its members wore custom-made “sanitary pad masks” to mock the committee for their silence over the post being given to Johor native Vincent Wu, who is also a DAP central executive committee member.
The club’s chairperson, Lee Kong Hing, claimed the masks were thick, dense, highly absorbent, and soundproof, saying they “perfectly symbolise how seamlessly silent the state leadership is”.
Negeri Sembilan DAP is led by party secretary-general and Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Federal Territories DAP Women also condemned the action, urging all party members to express their views in a constructive manner, rather than through provocative actions that ultimately harm the dignity of women.
“Sanitary pads are not tools for personal gain or instruments of intra-party protest. They represent the real-life experiences of millions of women and should not be misused as political gimmicks, especially within our own party.
“Let us uphold the party’s core values: respect, integrity, and a genuine commitment to advancing women’s rights, and not divert public attention from substantive issues through excessive symbolic gestures,” the wing said on a Facebook post last night.
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Why so sensitive about everything? Its a disposable commodity. Why equate it to something that demands respect? If they used toilet paper to wrap up their face, would that be an issue too ? Deemed insulting to Egyptians ? Or an insult to anyone without access to toilet rolls? Yes plenty of people go without basic necessities, food included. What about those DAP events hosted, tonnes of food are wasted and thrown away? Will Teo protest against food wastage during political events? It's a protest. People will do imbecilic things. As long as they don't harm others. Watch how feminist protests in Europe / US by insulting their male counterparts and their body parts publicly. Or in Malaysia, protestors beat up effigies, stuff kangkung, etc. If Teo and friends feel very strongly about protest methods, suggest to re-look into laws governing protests and allowable conduct. In the end, everything will be deemed sensitive, and any form of public expression will be deemed offensive.
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