Women's Right To Boycott Sexist YBs

Suhakam Vice-Chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun said we are living in a democracy and the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) is free to make its stand as a pressure group in urging the public not to vote for Members of Parliament (MPs) who make sexist remarks and asking political parties not to field them as candidates.

"The group can put their case forward but whether the Government is going to listen to them is another issue. Political parties concerned will have to consider whether there is a basis for the women's call," he said.

Sipaun, however, conceded that remarks made by two Barisan Nasional MPs linking a leaking roof to an Opposition MP's menstruation were uncalled-for.

"As far as I am concerned, we must look at a fellow MP as a human being, regardless of whether she is from the Government or Opposition. Our perception should not be based on gender."

Several Sabah women groups and leaders have expressed their support for JAG's move. JAG is an umbrella coalition of several women organisations - All Women's Action Society (Awam), Sisters in Islam, Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Pusat Janadaya, Women's Development Collective (WDC) and Women's Centre for Change (WCC).

President of the Sabah Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce (SBCC), Datuk Hj Ahmad Ali Abdul Aziz Lope is confident that the country's leadership will select people of good morals and who have the capacity to serve the nation as candidates for the impending election.

"As far as I am concerned, we want elected representatives who are capable and have the people's interests at heart, and can deliver the goods, irrespective of whether they are men or women. That is most important. I always feel that Malaysians should not play with gender issues. Just don't talk about senseless things like 'skirts'," he said.

LDP Secretary-General Teo Chee Kang said Malaysian People's Representatives should be conscious of the fact that it was because of the support of both male and female voters that they were elected. "It is most ungrateful of them to injure the feelings of the opposite sex by uttering sexist remarks in furtherance of personal agenda best known to them."

Teo, a lawyer, recalled that Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had in his maiden speech as Prime Minister in Parliament stressed that first-world infrastructure must go hand in hand with a first-class mentality. "Therefore, if we want a first-world Parliament, we should not leave sexism and male chauvinism unchecked in Parliament. We should nip the problem in the bud before it goes beyond control."

While saying it is the right of JAG to ask political parties not to field sexist MPs as candidates, PBS Information Chief Johnny Mositun said, at the end of the day, it is the prerogative of the BN top leadership to decide whether they should be re-nominated as candidates.

"I understand the sensitivities of womenfolk in the country. But the MPs concerned have already tendered their apologies. However, if the leadership considers the women's petition and decides to drop the MPs from the candidates' list, then I would think it is indeed a bold decision."

President of the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM), Datuk Wong Khen Thau stressed that every human being, be it a man or a woman, should be accorded due respect.

Speaking in his personal capacity, he said: "Basically, if we don't respect others, we cannot expect others to respect us. So, those who are disrespectful don't deserve to be respected." He, however, refrained from urging the public not to vote for sexist YBs. "I leave it to them to decide."

Chairperson of Malaysian Nature Society-Sabah, Omar Abdul Kadir suggested that the sexist YBs be given a second chance. "They should have learned their lesson by now and hopefully, they will be more cautious in future, especially in an august house such as Parliament. Let us respect our mothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, wives and daughters."

Meanwhile, he concurred with the President of the Sabah Environmental Protection Association (Sepa), Datuk Susanna Jayasuriya that the Government must give emphasis to environmental issues.

"I hope the incoming elected representatives in the country will do away with sexism but pay more attention to issues like climate change. Malaysia is no exception and we are affected by global warming. It is imperative that we do something about it."

Professional counsellor Dr William Liew supports the call to stop making sexist remarks in Parliament. He said it is shameful to make derogatory remarks aimed at another gender. "Stop making fun of another gender. Stop hurting others. We need to respect a fellow human being. But before we can do that, we must respect ourselves first, whether we are politicians, professionals, non-professionals or ordinary citizens. This is the basic principle of human relationship in all areas of activity." (Daily Express, Sabah)

***** Boycotting these uncouth bastards is the only logical thing to do. However the first step is to categorically let it be known to the leadership of BN especially Umno that they should refrain from proposing these lowlife or be prepared to face the consequences. If the political parties still persist in nominating them, which I think they will, then JAG should harness every and all resources available to them to ensure the defeat of not only these loudmouths but all the others, especially women MPs who sat through silently when their sisters were being humiliated in Parliament.
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