Fong Po Kuan and I, together with members of civil society, condemn the two sexist Umno MPs outside Shahrizat’s office May 15 before giving her a protest memorandum.
10-Point Resolution To Uphold Women’s Dignity Towards A First World Parliament
BY HAND
Y.B. Dato’ Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga Dan Masyarakat
Aras 1-6, Blok E
Kompleks Pejabat Kerajaan Bukit Perdana
Jalan Dato’ Onn
50515 Kuala LumpurYang Berhormat Dato’ Seri,
10-Point Resolution To Uphold Women’s Dignity Towards A First World Parliament
We are instructed by the participants and the major women organisations at a “Uphold Women’s Dignity, Towards A First World Parliament” forum in YMCA Hall in Brickfields Kuala Lumpur on 17th May to convey the following 10 points for immediate action from YB during the meeting with YB Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN – Kinabatangan) and YB Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN – Jasin) at 10 am today.
1) That the meeting OBSERVES that the remarks on 9 May 2007 in Parliament by both BN MPs against YB Fong Poh Kuan (DAP – Batu Gajah) while they were in a heated argument over the ceiling leakage in the Parliament building, is highly offensive and demeaning towards all women as well as a form of sexual harassment towards YB Fong in her performance of her duties.
2) FURTHER OBSERVES that both BN MPs have a dismal record as a serial offender of sexist remarks that displayed outright contempt, mockery and even hostility towards women.
3) AFFIRMS that Parliament should be a forum for serious discussion where issues that affect Malaysians and the country’s future in a reasoned and rational manner instead of being perverted to spew demeaning insults based on one’s race, gender or religion.
4) HEREBY RESOLVES that YB seeks that:-
a) both MPs unconditionally and unreservedly withdraw and apologise to both YB Fong Po Kuan and all women for such unacceptable behaviour that is contrary to social, cultural and religious norms of Malaysian society; and
b) severe penalties be meted out against both BN MPs in the form of suspension for a period of 6 months as a Member of Parliament, 6 months community service in a women NGO, 6 months MP’s allowance be donated to women NGO groups and be stripped of their Datukships;
c) both MPs be required to attend counseling to remove their innate hostility and prejudice against women;
d) a Cabinet Committee on Gender Equality and a Parliament Caucus on Gender Equality be established to remove discriminatory practices both in and outside Parliament;
e) a full apology be made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Nazri Aziz and UMNO MPs for Petrajaya, Tangga Batu, Johor Baru for defending both MPs, looking at it from a humorous perspective and promoting their right to utter such offensive language as freedom of speech;
f) a Code of Conduct be adopted by all political parties prescribing criteria that proscribe any candidates with a past history of prejudice and discrimination against women; and
g) courses on gender sensitization be given to all elected representatives and members of the Cabinet.
To this purpose a People’s Parliament comprising of concerned citizens and netizens shall spread the message of upholding women’s dignity and upgrading the personal standards and qualities of MPs. We trust that YB would perform your duty without fear or favour.
Restore the dignity of both women and Parliament!
Yours faithfully,
LIM GUAN ENG
SECRETARY-GENERAL
Some of the panelists at the “Respect Women’s Dignity” Forum on Thursday evening.
I was playing the role of DPP in the sketch during the “Respect Women’s Dignity” forum. Ivy Josiah from WAO, playing the role of a sexist MP, is on the left while Maria Chin from WDC played the role of defence council. The script was written by WCC from Penang.
On May 14, a DAP delegation presented our memo of protest against the two sexist MPs to Najib, the BN whip.
It is a job well done. Thank you.
Wanita UMNO and Puteri UMNO have not made their stand on this. Neither Wanita MCA or MIC too.
Sure DAP making a big fuss out of it but if the 2 esteemed gentlemen were not so hard headed, this small matter would have been water under bridge, now it is an unresolved, undignified recorded event.
Maybe Bungsy should have said,” mana bocor, treasury negara/MAS/Bank Bumiputra tiap tiap bulan pun bocor” then it would not have been such a big fuss.
But seriusly, how can my hard earned money paid for my taxes ended up in such a manner? Can I ask for a refund?
oh, ya. Putting on a racist front, how come the outcry only from Chinese and Indian communities, the Malays sisters seems to be contend with this. How come? Can someone enlighten me?
Dear YB Teresa,
I really dont understand how ‘Mr. Close One Eye’ and Bungsy can become MPs. I, sometimes feel so ashamed that our MPs’ behaviour in Parliament especially, is so disgraceful and of no standard.Thus,this is coupled by many UMNO ministers who are cowards who have not guts to admit the truth but have big MOUTHS.
If it’s wrong, then it’s wrong. There NO way to lie and lie to make it right. They definitely dont have my respect. They forgot that it was their mothers who gave birth to them and not their fathers.
I’m so infuriated by their sexist comments and many, many comments before and i really hope that the people in their constituents will vote them out and DAP takes over to teach them a lesson.
Keep up the good work and continue to question all their wasteful attitudes towards Malaysians’ taxpayers monies, our expense.
Everything in Malaysia is getting more expensive but salary remains the same!
I feel sorry to women & MP Poh Kuan. Moreover, a sincere apology is required.
Quoted here from TV broadcast recently,
“Even though they had made an apology in the TV or with present of ‘Shaz’ but please have attention on what they had said.
May be many of us are not paying good attention to their usage of “bahasa” and may someone do a review of what had been spoken!
(Instead of “saya” or “kami dua orang” they used “kita antara….” & “kami” then making it like the whole team is behind these two….! It is no matter of between BN or opposition but a personality mockery by attitude of individual MP!)
And, too while again trying to isolate the woman from others or said again “is she a female?” really too much. They try to do the same from their typical “culture” to other ladies but is not right at all.
So all the women please suggest a more drastic apology in official statement again but do not fool many with this “bahasa” alright!”