You can accuse, for example, the Jews and the Mormons of being the same. The Mormons look upon their women as less than their equals, as weak and needing protection from the men, depending on their men for leadership and be their teacher in life. The Jews look upon their women as being different from the men. Values such as these can be found among orthodox Jews who feel that the place of women is in the home, raising their families and educating them – working outside the home only when necessary.

In Jewish synagogues you find the women physically separated from the men. Muslims likewise treat their women “as not their equals” – for want of a better term. In mosques and suraus you see women praying in different parts of the hall physically separated from their male counterparts – much like the Jews do. They are not allowed to pray together with the men. The way they treat their women is the same way women have been treated through the ages – according to the teachings of the Old Testament.

The Mormons are polygamous taking on many wives, marrying under aged children of their wives who are not their daughters, and taking care of the wives who have lost their husbands etc.

As far as Jews and Muslims are concerned, it is not a matter just of culture and tradition but religion. Both believe in the Old Testament. The Torah is the first five chapters of the Christian Bible. In the chapter on ‘Genesis’ there are references that God did not create Eve to be Adam’s equal.

Chinese are none of the above i.e. neither Christians, Jewish nor Muslims. That does not mean they do not take on multiple women as their partners. They may marry only one wife but may have as many as a couple mistresses if they can afford it. This tends to be the norm among successful businessmen. Religion has no role here.

Confucianism, Buddhism and Hinduism and Taoism are not religions in the way Christianity, Judaism and Islam are. Christianity, Judaism and Islam share the same Old Testament prophets.

This equality of the sexes, some would say, is a fairly recent ‘invention’. Remember that women were never given the right to vote until the turn of the last century – in the 1920s in the U.K. That is very recent. Prior to that they are treated as less than equals.

Christians were marrying cousins until the last century – like Muslims today. Polygamous marriage is allowed in the Old Testament (Koran) and Jesus Christ in the New Testament did not say anything about monogamy or polygamy or women being equal to men.

It has nothing to do with race.

1. Do Malays by tradition and custom plays women on a lower ground than men?

2. Do Malays by tradition find it funnier to raise gender insensitive jokes?

Since this is a topic of male treatment towards female, let us talk about tne comment about “typical Malay chauvinists”. The question is do Malays put women on equal grounds with men.

1. Are there women leaders in the mosque/surau?

2. Why do women cover their heads? What does that symbolise? Does it symbolise a lower position?

3. And if that is ingrained in Malay culture, what are Malay male response towards this culture especially in growing feminism trend throughout the world? If it is based on a culture and tradition, at least it takes modern minds to break out of this tradition and give women the equal grounds they deserve.

Maybe the female blogger made the remark about “typical Malay chauvinists” from experience. Let us hear from other bloggers.

ARE MALAY MALE MORE CHAUVINIST THAN OTHER RACES? This may seem like a racist discussion but how can we improve Malaysia if we do not think, discuss and share our opinions so that others may hear the opinions and buck up and make Malaysia a better place.

He was thinking of the “kebocoran”.

And by the way this should be called a sexual harassment although most ppl said the statement is a joke!

Quoted from the Code of Practice on Sexual Harassment at the Workplace 1999:
FORMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
8. Sexual harassment encompasses various conducts of a sexual nature which can manifest themselves in five possible forms, namely:
(i) verbal harassment:
e.g. offensive or suggestive remarks, comments, jokes, jesting, kidding, sounds, questioning.

Jokes?????

This is a clear statement that says this govt practises DOUBLE STANDARD… DOUBLE STANDARD… DOUBLES TANDARD… DOUBLE STANDARD…DOUBLE STANDARD…DOUBLE STANDARD…DOUBLE STANDARD

MALAYSIA BOLEH

Nowdays, people vote for candidate who can give them a good time like making them laugh through speeches rather than those who can do work and deliver on promises made…

well malaysians are malaysian…..mudah lupa and maaf…

Wake up all malaysian….let us vote for change or at least no 90% control….

Everyone is pre-occupied by this bocor issue now. What about the real issue of leaking parliment? Are we going to let semi valued off and his request of 22mil tax payer’s money just to inspect leaking buildings?

This is not about woman’s menstrual cycle. (For if you say to a woman she does not ‘bochor’ it is equally insulting as you imply she is either pregnant or menopausal!)

It is not even entirely about using sexist unparliamentary reference of menstrual cycle and all things howsoever relating to sex on a woman MP of Batu Gajah or any other woman MP.

It is all about the arrogance with which BN’s MPs say (whether in Parliament or in other forums like UMNOI Assembly) whatever they feel like saying as it suits their convenience without sensitivity of others outside the circle of protected power – and get a rapturous applause of endorsement from the audience!

Today we have menstrual cycle. (When the motion to commit the duo to Privileges Committee, there was thunderous thumping of table and applause).

Sometime back when Pak made his first address to UMNO Assembly and talked about Malays should dispense with their crutches, Jerai MP (Badruddin) said, “let no one from the other races ever question the rights of Malays on this land. Don’t question the religion, because this is my right on this land.” He warned those who opposed such (Ketuanan policies) and brandished the May 13 book to rapturous applause of those at the Assembly.

Instead of debating or arguing in a civil way with Batu Gajah MP, the same chaps make a mockery pf parliamentray debate and diverted the issue by asking, “How long can the Yang Berhormat’s husband stand her?”

Instead of rebuting, the same chap referred to YB LKS the “the damned, bloody stupid old man!” and followed this up by shouting in Hokkien, “Ah Pek (old man), sit down and keep quiet!”

When Kit stood to debate with Badruddin on the tudung issue, he said “This is the fasting month (of Ramadhan, when Muslims must fast during the day). I don’t want to argue with people who don’t understand, who don’t fast.”

He called Indians as keling as in same vein as JJ, Sheena Moorty.
All these remarks are public record reported in news and in this wikipedia link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badruddin_Amiruldin

So the issue is not just about woman’s menstrual cycle. It is about the arrogance of power. It is about being civil and sensitive to others, their feelings and rights especially those of non malays and Malaysians in general outside, as I said, the circle of power and official protection.

It is about making those within the circle of power accountable so that they would be more responsible in making public statements as befitting the image of parliamentarians, ministers etc.
If there is no momentum picked up for the public to object (using the menstrual cycle as the rallying point) – like the way it is done to make Maybank retract on its 50% Bumi policy for legal panelship – when will the accountability by power begin and riding roughshod over the rights of powerless Malaysians end?

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“What is important is the two MPS have to explain to Shahrizat,” he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
However, Nazri, who is in charge of Parliament affairs, said the two MPs should not apologise to Fong or the DAP for their remarks.
“To apologise to Fong is not on. I don’t agree.
“This is part of parliamentary debates. Both MPs uttered the words during the heat of their debate, and you cannot control people’s emotions.
“The two MPS were not giving speeches in the House, in which they can be accountable if their speech text had the offending words.
“I’m sure they didn’t have an agenda against Fong.
“But if they had offended women in general, that is another matter altogether. Then it’s up to them to apologise to women in general,” he added.
Nazri said it was unfortunate that the press had played up the incident, adding that it was part and parcel of parliamentary debates, and parliamentarians should not be easily offended by the heckling between one another.
Such unguarded outbursts always happen during debates and unfortunately the press had played up the issue, he said.

So YB, are you condoning the actions of the 2 chauvinists under your wing? All because “it was part and parcel of parliamentary debates”? And that “such unguarded outbursts always happen during debates”?

YB Fong is not a woman? If they had insulted women, then they had insulted YB Fong. But their “words” were directed specifically at YB Fong and indirectly at all women in general.

Don’t be such a contradiction, YB Nazri! How did the press “blow it out of proportion”? Did the press add any words other than those uttered by your 2 YBs? The press were just doing their job, REPORT! Is the “esteemed” YB Nazri now saying that the press should report half truths so as not to “blow it out of proportion” or maybe even better, not report at all?

The 2 “YBs” should be MAN enough to take responsibilities for their actions. And since YOU are speaking for them, be MAN enough too to apologise for them!

Assuming that in another debate at The Dewan, a YB , while not engaged in a debate, but while interrupting one, uttered “f#+k your mother”, diirecting it at you, YB, what would you do then? Sign it off as another “uncontrolled emotional episode”? Then say that this person should apologize to all mothers but don’t need to apologize to YOUR mother, whom he specifically insulted?

YB Nazri is, firstly, an elected MP, and secondly, an appointed Minister. Act your position!!! Don’t make our circus even more entertaining by adding another clown (or village idiot) act into the programme that is being vastly enjoyed by everybody!

That’s my 2 sen worth. If I have inadvertantly offended anybody in general, I APOLOGIZE. However, if the 3 YBs concerned feel offended, I don’t think apologies are in order as “parliamentarians should not be easily offended by the heckling between one another”.

Malaysia Boleh!!!

He thinks his position is still OK as top ministers have been apologists for him. Party Whip deputy premier Najib said that the 2 MPs had not intended to hurt or insult women. “They uttered the words during a debate as they were angry with the speech by the Batu Gajah MP”, he added. I am confounded. Why should they be angry at the speech by the Batu Gajah MP? And is it OK for the 2 MPs not intending to hurt or insult all women but one woman in particular on such terms in parliament? Nazri explained it another way, “ You cannot control people’s emotions all the time. This (parliament) is not a place where you have an academic exercise. These are unguarded moments …I don’t condone but they’re all human beings”.

He does not condone and yet he said it was “unnecessary for the 2 MPs to apologise as it would be difficult for MPs to debate in the house in the future”.

I though Nazri in charge of parliamentary affairs has evinced an intention for our parliamentarians to speak facts and improve the quality of their parliamentary debates?

Does speaking facts and improving quality of parliamentary debate include telling Batu Gajah about her menstrual cycle?

Shame on the BN MPs who came to the support and defense of these behaviours…..they do not have any basic morals and principles.

This is a small but important victory for women and Po Kuan should focus on the many critical issues affecting women and their basic rights which had been neglected by the male dominated world.

Po Kuan, you will never be alone when fighting for women rights…..there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of supporters out there who will come to your support to ensure their basic rights and dignity are properly respected.