Friday April 28, 2006, The star

Abdul Fatah slammed

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS MP Abdul Fatah Ibrahim continued to get shelling from angry female politicians and women’s groups yesterday over his remarks in Parliament that divorced women were gatal (randy).

The women have asked for an unreserved apology from the elected representative for his insensitive and hurtful statement.

“He should apologise to all Malaysian women, especially single mothers, as it is a huge blow and insult to us,” said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.


Abdul Fatah: Says some women end up divorced because they are gatal
She said she could accept it when MPs joke with each other in Parliament but Abdul Fatah “meant exactly what he said.”

“He expressed the feelings of the men of his ilk and he has no respect for women.

“He does not have true religious understanding of women and he attributes everything that is wrong in this world to women,” she said, adding that men of his type were weak and insecure.

When asked whether she had often come across men like Abdul Fatah, she said: “I have, but thankfully not enough for me to be alarmed and disgusted. By and large, Malaysian men have respect for women.”

In Islam, she said, women are accorded the highest respect, even during Prophet Muhammad’s time.

Wanita MCA chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen expressed “absolute disgust and horror” that an MP like Abdul Fatah is in Parliament.

“Having such people in the august House to formulate laws is dangerous. His whole concept of divorced women being promiscuous is unacceptable,” said the Deputy Finance Minister.

Dr Ng said all women MPs from Barisan Nasional including several deputy ministers took Abdul Fatah to task over his outrageous remark which reflected his total disrespect for women.

“We are very, very unhappy,” she said.

Dr Ng was grateful that Shahrizat and male MPs came to the defence of women after Abdul Fatah uttered the remark.

She also commended DAP’s Chong Eng for voicing her protest against Abdul Fatah’s insult, but wondered why other women representatives from the Opposition did not speak up.

Dr Ng said the episode showed that there was a need for more women at all levels of the Government, adding that a gender-sensitised Parliament was crucial if women are to be protected.

DAP MP Teresa Kok said Abdul Fatah did his party a disservice with his remark.

“Such a statement strengthens the image and impression that PAS does not respect women,” she said.

Sisters in Islam executive director Zainah Anwar said Abdul Fatah’s sexist and degrading statement undermined public confidence and trust in the ability and credibility of lawmakers responsible for passing laws that protect and promote the interests and rights of women.

A parliamentary gender caucus, she said, should be formed immediately to ensure that gender perspectives are included in all parliamentary debates, government policies and legislations