Media statement by Teresa Kok Suh Sim in Shah Alam on Monday, 3^rd January 2011:

Kedah Gerakan Youth Chief Tan Keng Liang should apologise to State Assemblyman Hannah Yeoh and all women for his snide and sexist remark

I am appalled by Kedah Gerakan Youth Chief Tan Keng Liang's snide and sexist remark that Hannah Yeoh, ADUN for Subang Jaya, who is currently pregnant, will become unfit to serve as ADUN.

At 5.18pm today, he wrote on his Twitter, "Would u choose @jezlai or @hannahyeoh which will be on maternity leave soon (as the ADUN for Subang Jaya in the upcoming elections)?" Source: http://twitter.com/tankengliang/status/21495574247251968

His remarks are an insult to women and mothers everywhere and most disgraceful coming from a Gerakan leader at that.

Despite having been told off by dozens of Malaysians on Twitter, Tan remains pigheaded and continues to defend his statement, which is telling of how intensely chauvinistic he is towards women.

He had better remember that women make up 49% of Malaysia's population. Should he aspire to be an elected representative, he has the moral duty to serve male and female constituents equally and without prejudice.

I urge Tan to apologise to Hannah and all women unreservedly for his ignorance and to educate himself on gender equality. I would gladly sponsor Tan Keng Liang's gender equality training by any one of the women's NGOs in Malaysia.

I commend Hannah for her dignified response, "I assure u (Tan Keng Liang) I can work harder than some of ur BN MPs even when I'm on maternity leave."

Hannah and her DUN Subang Jaya team have been working very hard for the people of Subang Jaya ever since she was elected in March 2008. Their dedication is well noted and much appreciated by the Subang Jaya community. Therefore, I have every confidence that Hannah will make good what she has said.

* Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Selangor State Senior EXCO for Investment, Industry & Trade, MP for Seputeh & Secretary of DAP Wanita