Rights groups back Batu Kawan MP over Tajuddin cursing issue

 Women's rights groups involved in drafting, lobbying and tabling the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 have voiced their support for Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto who had spoken up against Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s alleged sexist remarks in the Dewan Rakyat last week.

The Anti-Sexual Harassment Advocacy Group - comprising the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality, Engender and Young Women Making Change - said the Dewan Rakyat must take a clear and unequivocal stand on intimidating behaviour against women MPs.

"We call for an immediate investigation to be launched into the matter, and should the facts be substantiated, for proper disciplinary actions to be taken against Tajuddin or any other MPs who behave that way for that matter," said the groups in a statement.

Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon

The groups also noted that Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon had yesterday ejected Kasthuri for refusing to accept his ruling on Tajuddin's behaviour.

"The deputy speaker has used the excuse that the profanity allegedly uttered by Tajuddin during the debate on the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill last week was not recorded in the Hansard - presumably because the microphone was switched off.

"Yet, it has been reported that multiple MPs claim to have heard him do so," said the groups.

"In our view, Tajuddin’s alleged actions have created an intimidating, offensive and hostile environment, especially for women MPs who have been subjected time and again to such behaviour.

"To fail to call such behaviour to a proper account is to condone it," they stressed.

Rashid had addressed the letter Kasthuri sent this week demanding swift action against Tajuddin for his allegedly sexist behaviour.

The deputy speaker, however, ruled that the curse word allegedly uttered by the Pasir Salak MP was not in the Hansard - which elicited an objection from Kasthuri and caused her to be removed from the house.

Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman

Tajuddin, who was given two minutes to speak on the issue, deemed the claim a "political assassination".

Besides Tajuddin, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching had also singled out Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin and Baling MP Azeez Abdul Rahim as being alleged repeat offenders for making sexist remarks in the house. - Mkini