MCA blasts 'distasteful remarks' used in ministry's promo video

PETALING JAYA: MCA has slammed the 'distasteful remarks' on women used in a Women, Family and Community Development Ministry promotional video and criticised Datuk Seri Rina Harun for condoning actor Datuk Rosyam Nor's actions and not stopping and educating him when he said it.

While the full recording of Rosyam's lines provide better context on how he made his remarks, Wanita MCA chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie said that his jokes were crass and only affirm long-held condescending gender profiling of women.

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"He is reported to have uttered insulting words such as 'wake up late', 'women are all slow', 'eh, wake up' and 'I want to hit your heads' in a TikTok video clip to promote the Ministry's entrepreneurship programme, she said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 14).

Heng noted that if Rosyam had been aware of the inner strength that women have and the challenges that mothers and daughters face in the long hours balancing household chores, family responsibilities and work demands, he may not have said what he did.

She also said that Rina, in her position as minister, should have done more when the incident took place.

"If Rina had immediately checked Rosyam, stopped his nonsensical talk and educated him that such misogyny is totally unacceptable, that would have left a meaningful impact.

"Not only has such a portrayal tarnished the ministry, they completely defeat the initiatives to empower women which the ministry and its staff have long laboured for," she said, adding that shows that women in Malaysia still have an uphill battle to change mindsets.

Heng also called for a syllabus on gender sensitisation to be taught in primary and secondary schools as well as tertiary level to oust gender-stereotyped mindsets and insults.

"Such courses should also be mandatory during the induction and training of civil servants.

"This is to inculcate mutual respect in addition to removing archaic stereotypes that degrade women and their daily struggles in the domestic sphere and work life," she said.

Meanwhile, at a separate event on Wednesday, Rina criticised Rosyam in a speech.

"He said on Tuesday (Sept 13) that women shouldn't wake up late. They always wake up late.

"I told Rosyam, do not undermine the efforts and determination of women," said Rina, in a video posted on her Instagram account.