Current comments on why a woman cannot become the next menteri besar in Selangor reek of sexual discrimination. One would have thought this kind of jaded thinking was in the past.
COMMENT
By Janarthani Arumugam
UMNO lawyer, Mohd Hafarizam Harun made a sexist, distasteful and disrespectful comment against PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail by saying she should be barred from becoming Selangor menteri besar due to her menstrual period.
Yet again women are being discriminated against and relegated as secondary to men due to their biological make up.
The point here is not whether Wan Azizah eventually agrees to or even becomes a possible candidate for the menteri besar’s post – she should not be discriminated against based on her biological make up.
She, like any other female or male, should be given the equal opportunity to present herself as a candidate as no where in the Selangor Constitution or Federal Constitution, is it stated that no woman or female is barred from becoming a menteri besar.
His (Hafarizam) misogynistic comment extends to dehumanising Dr. Wan Azizah as being “unclean”, not able to sit together with the Sultan, and not being able to pray and read the Quran, among others, just because she is a woman having her menses.
Even worse, his statement was concurred by Dr Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz, a lecturer from UIA who further added fuel to the sexist comment by saying that perhaps Selangor is not ready for a female menteri besar.
Making such misogynistic comments reflects sexist prejudices and a patriarchal ideology, which form the basis for discrimination against females in our society.
One would have thought that in this millennium with women leaders and politicians in our midst, we would have moved towards a more inclusive, responsive and non-discriminatory society.
The fact that Malaysia has taken the bold step to amend our constitution to end gender discrimination and signed the convention against all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW) means that discriminatory and sexist practices, words, attitudes and thinking is outlawed in our society.
EMPOWER demands that both Hafarizam and Shamrahayu retract their statements and apologise immediately.
Their sexist behaviour is not Malaysian culture. It is also not for them to decide who the next menteri besar will be – it is for the people of Selangor to decide.
If the people of Selangor are not happy with the selection, they can demand for a new candidate but it will not be based on biological make-up or sexist and discriminatory criteria but on principles, merits, effectiveness, and responsiveness towards voters’ interests.
Janarthani Arumugam is the President of NGO EMPOWER.
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