KUALA LUMPUR – Single women are not a “problem” that needs fixing, a DAP lawmaker said in response to a PAS MP’s suggestion that polygamy is the solution for some 4.8 million women in Malaysia who are unmarried.
Yeo Bee Yin (Puchong-PH) accused Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Kubang Kerian-PN) of being sexist in the Dewan Rakyat today and said his proposal was hurtful to women in general.
“Kubang Kerian is being sexist. Why are unmarried women a problem? Why are women who marry late a problem? But it is not a problem if men don’t marry?” Yeo asked during MPs’ debate on Budget 2024 at the committee stage for the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
Earlier, Tuan Ibrahim had suggested that the ministry provide moral support for polygamy to those who could afford it as one solution for unmarried women.
Yeo interjected after women’s minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said she did not agree with Tuan Ibrahim’s proposal for the time being, when winding up and replying to MPs’ queries on the budget bill.
Yeo said Tuan Ibrahim should retract his statement, adding that sexist remarks were a form of bullying.
Defending himself, Tuan Ibrahim insisted he was not being sexist and that he was merely citing facts by the government in its population census report, which showed that there were 4.8 million women above the age of 30 who were either unmarried or decided not to get married at all.
“I won’t retract. Refer to my statement, it has nothing to do with being sexist. I was asking what is the ministry’s plan, what is the impact (of unmarried women) on the economy. No need to be sensitive just because I said (polygamy) a little bit,” the PAS deputy president said.
Deputy Speaker Alice Lau told Yeo to file a motion if she was still unhappy with Tuan Ibrahim’s explanation. – November 22, 2023