Assembly fines Umno rep RM1,000 for sexist remark

BN state assemblypersons today staged a walkout after the Selangor state assembly passed a motion to fine Batang Kali representative Mohd Isa Abu Kasim RM1,000 for uttering sexist remarks in the House.

A Facebook posting by Rawang assemblyperson Gan Pei Nei says she proposed the motion which was supported by Hulu Selangor assemblyperson Saari Sungib and Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

The motion initially called for Mohd Isa (right) to be slapped with a fine of RM5,000, but this was later reduced to RM1,000.

"After Mohd Isa apologised... I proposed for the fine be reduced to RM1,000 on condition Mohd Isa (personally) makes a sincere apology to (Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson) Elizabeth Wong and attends a gender sensitivity course.

"This is a reminder to everybody not to be sexist to anyone," Gan said in another posting.

Last Thursday, Mohd Isa caused a stir in the House after he made a vulgar remark against Wong, the state exco member in charge of environment and tourism, when commenting on an alleged encroachment into the Templer Park forest reserve.

He had said: “I am very happy the exco is continuing to look after forest reserves to prevent encroachment, but don’t do this to the extent of neglecting to look after your own ‘forest’.”

(Saya juga cukup amat gembira kerana exco menjaga kawasan-kawasan... teruskan menjalankan aktiviti mengawas hutan-hutan simpanan ini daripada diceroboh... jangan sampai lupa jaga hutan diri you sendiri.)

Isa had later denied that theremark was vulgar saying he was referring to the forest in Bukit Lanjan, Wong's constituency.

Prior to the walkout today, Mohd Isa had denied, during the debate on the motion, that his remark was sexist.

However, he apologised if he had offended anybody's sensitivity.

It was after the motion was passed that Mohd Isa and the other BN assemblypersons staged the walkout.