The moment has come for the women of Terengganu to ask some deep-searching questions about the use of religion to control them, not just in sports but in many other areas of their lives.
Two weeks ago, a stadium in Terengganu introduced gender segregation with separate seating areas for women. A week after that, women singers were banned from performing at a temple event, and in the new year, the hot springs near Jerteh will be segregated to prevent intermingling.
We thought we’d seen the last of the bans on women, but on Aug 14, the state announced that it would not send female gymnasts to the Malaysian Games (Sukma) this year. Their clothing was not syariah-compliant.
The bans on what women can, or cannot do in 21st century Malaysia are abhorrent, but what is more shocking is the relative silence of the women of Terengganu.
Do they agree with the bans?
Where are the voices of the female state and national athletes, both former and current sportswomen?
Why are the sports bodies quiet?
Do male athletes agree with the ban on Terengganu women gymnasts? They must be able to see that clothing is being used to override all the good points about participation in sports, like teamwork, tenacity, discipline and doing one’s best to excel.
Encouraging female participation
What has Women, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri to say about the ban on women? Why has Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh not spoken out about the latest Terengganu ban?
Have they been silenced because the ban on women gymnasts (and performers) and the segregation of sexes at football stadiums is steeped in religious sensitivities?
It would be wrong to sacrifice female athletes, just to please the wannabe clerics cum politicians in the state. We want to encourage women’s participation, not discourage them by using religion to criticise their clothing.
Around a year ago, an MP in a neighbouring state complained that nurses’ uniforms were too tight and were not syariah-compliant.
Social engineering
There appears to be a targeted assault on the women of the east coast by conservative politicians. If they think the sports attire or uniforms are too tight, then they should look away.
Most people attend football matches or sports events to support their athletes, be part of history when records are broken and new ones set, marvel at the resilience of a competing athlete, or simply be motivated and inspired by their determination.
People do not attend sporting events to fantasise over a woman’s body. If the statistics of a former survey are to be believed, a high proportion of men from the east coast satisfy their urges by accessing “blue” websites online, or by nipping across the border to southern Thailand.
Religion is being used by unimaginative politicians to control us and to condition society. Women’s sports attire, the prevention of intermingling of sexes in the stadium and the ban on women performers are merely to manipulate our behaviour. It is just another form of social engineering, to make us obedient.
If Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis, which are both conservative and Perikatan Nasional-led states, can send both male and female gymnasts to compete at Sukma, then why is the interpretation of the religion different in Terengganu?
In the end, these bans have little to do with religion. It boils down to the diktats of the wannabe clerics cum politicians, and wannabe politicians cum clerics.
You may recall that in 2016, the Perak deputy mufti, Zamri Hashim, warned Muslim husbands not to be weak and irresponsible, but to control their wives and daughters, otherwise, they (the men) would not go to Heaven.
The bans and segregation are all about control. It’s about keeping women in their place, and out of power. It is the subjugation of women.
Conservative politicians on the East Coast of the peninsula should leave misogyny in the past. If they must look to the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is slowly relaxing its rules on women compared to the Taliban of Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim must start the narrative to undo decades of brainwashing and misogynistic teachings directed at the Malay. He should do this so Malay women can realise their full potential.
Be more vocal
More importantly, Malaysians, in particular Malaysian women must be more vocal. Today, the excuse is women’s clothing in sports. What will be banned next? Education?
These are dangerous times. The bans on what women can or cannot do seem to be increasing by the week.
The women of Terengganu must fight for their rights because every government and state administration will push for more power and will not willingly release their authority.
If you do nothing and find that more of your rights are then taken away, you’ll have nobody to blame but yourself. - Mkini
MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, X.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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