PETALING JAYA: Five civil society groups have spoken up against the treatment of three female MPs in the Opposition by the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Azhar Harun during the closing hours of yesterday’s special sitting of the House.
The MPs were Hannah Yeoh, Kasthuri Patto and Teo Nie Ching MP.
In a joint statement, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0), Engage, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), Bait Al-Amanah and Persatuan Pengundi Muda (Undi18) voiced their displeasure.
“The altercation occurred when these female MPs led the push to convince the Speaker to invite the government to extend the sitting hours, so that the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Khairy Jamaluddin could continue his response to the many important questions raised by MPs from both sides of the aisle regarding the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP),” they said.
“The request by the female MPs was entirely in keeping with similar requests made by MPs in similar circumstances in the usual course of proceedings in any parliamentary system. It is also entirely within the norm for Speakers of a legislative body to consider such requests if they have the power to do so, and if they do not have the power to extend time, to invite the government bench to bring a motion to extend sitting for a stated time if they are minded to do so.”
However, the Speaker refused to even acknowledge that the request by the female MPs was not for him to extend the sitting hours, but for him to invite the government bench to do so, they pointed out.
“Instead, he responded repeatedly to these female MPs to ‘Tolong diam boleh tak’ and ‘Tolong diam sekejap’, followed by repeatedly turning off the microphones.
“For many who were observing the live cast of those proceedings, both his language and tone were simply inappropriate, not only entirely out of proportion, but also gave a clear impression of chauvinistic or gender-based discriminatory behaviour.
“While other MPs stood up to interject their support for the female MPs’ request, these female MPs were the ones at the forefront. Further, there were many moments during the proceedings in the House over the last three days when the male MPs from both sides of the aisle used rude and inappropriate language against each other as well as on occasion, the Presiding Officer in the House. Yet to none of these male MPs did the Speaker adopt such words and tone as he did with the female MPs yesterday evening.”
Gender-based discrimination is present and it is endemic, they said. “It is our collective moral obligation to call it out when it happens, support those targeted and push for consequences, whether it happens in schools, workplace or the halls of Parliament.
“This statement is initiated by the Seed Community for a Professional Parliament, a network of individuals active in civil society organisations, think tanks and academia working towards a professional Parliament that facilitates healthy policy competition between parties,” they added.
