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Media Statement

by Lim Guan Eng

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(Petaling Jaya, Monday): The severe criticism against MCA Parliamentary Secretary Chow Mei Fun shows that Malaysians will never forgive BN for allowing the 2 BN MPs, who made offensive sexist remarks against Fong Po Kuan and all women, to escape unpunished with a fake apology that was both insincere and meaningless. Malaysian men and women were outraged with Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN – Kinabatangan) and Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN – Jasin) for making demeaning and derogatory remarks in Parliament on 9 May 2007 against Fong and all women that made fun of what is essentially a natural biological function of females.

However Malaysians are not mollified and still angry despite the apology made by both men which is seen as fake, insincere and meaningless for 4 reasons. One, both men did not feel remorse or repent for what they had done wrong by refusing to apologise to Fong or offer to undergo counseling to stop their dismal record as a serial offender of derogatory remarks against women in Parliament. For instance a four-letter profanity was used against a DAP woman six years ago and a sexist-tainted boleh masuk sikit? (Can I come in a little?) remark in his attempt to seek clarification from Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng during a parliamentary debate.  

Two the insincerity of both men is highlighted by their offering to apologise to women on the morning of 16 May 2007 but subsequently withdrawing their apology in the afternoon. 

Three, BN leaders such as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Nazri Aziz and UMNO MPs for Petrajaya, Tangga Batu, Johor Baru defended both MPs, by looking at it from a humorous perspective and promoting their right to utter such offensive language as freedom of speech. 

Four, both men only apologized to women but not to Fong as a form of political damage control by BN to soothe public outrage at the highly offensive remarks and also seen as a form of sexual harassment towards Fong in her performance of her duties as a parliamentarian.

A public forum on 17 May 2007 in YMCA Hall in Brickfields demanded severe penalties be meted out against both BN MPs in the form of suspension for a period of 12 months as a Member of Parliament, 12 months community service in a women NGO, 12 months MP’s allowance be donated to women NGO groups and that they be stripped of their Datukships; 

The public wants Parliament to be serious forum for discussion where issues that affect Malaysians and the country’s future in a reasoned and rational manner instead of being perverted to spew demeaning insults based on one’s race, gender or religion. This can be seen by yesterday’s RTM2 programme “What You Say” attended also by DAP Wanita chief and Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng, where Parliamentary Secretary Chow Mei Fun was severely criticized by viewers for MCA’s position to continue to support and defend the two UMNO MPs. 

Such boorish behaviour is unacceptable and a disgrace to the dignity of Parliament. To preserve the status of Parliament as the supreme institution of the land there is no place of MPs who show no respect for women’s dignity with such unacceptable behaviour that is contrary to social, cultural and religious norms of Malaysian society. The refusal of BN to sack the two sexist BN MPs or  MCA, MIC and Gerakan unwillingness to say whether they support the two UMNO MPs in the next general elections only shows that they are fighting not for the people’s interests but for UMNO’s interests.