Rina's ministry draws more brickbats over 'women are always late' video clip

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Rina Harun has found herself in the centre of another controversy, with a video clip by her ministry being slammed by politicians across the divide for being demeaning to women.

Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said felt the word "women" should be removed from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry's name after Rina was seen smiling in the video while actor Rosyam Nor berated women for being "always late" and claimed he would "smack their heads".

"All efforts taken by the ministry in combatting violence against women have been in vain," Azalina said in a tweet on Wednesday (Sept 14) after Rina was seen in a TikTok video with the actor.

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 a women,” said Rina, in a video posted on her Instagram account.

YBM, elok @KPWKM ditukar kpd “Kementerian Pembangunan Keluarga”, buang je perkataan “wanita”. Senang kerja. Rugi semua usaha Kem dlm isu Menentang Keganasan thdp wanita bagai Mencurah Air ke Daun Keladi. Kesian. STOP #violenceagainstwomenhttps://t.co/3Ti8ETgBvG — Azalina Othman Said (@AzalinaOthmanS) September 14, 2022

In the clip, Rosyam said women were always late and urged them to attend a particular event or he would "smack them on the head".

"Everything is late when it comes to women. Wake up, wake up from your sleep!" he is heard saying in the video.

Rina and ministry officials are seen standing beside the actor, smiling.

@dsrinaharun Wanita selalu lambat? Jom sertai Program Keusahawanan Wanita Bangkit @ KPWKM yang akan diadakan di World Trade Centre bermula pukul 9 pagi esok. @Rosyam Nor #RinaHarun #ToWorkToEngage #KPWKMPrihatin #fyp #fypシ ♬ original sound - Rina Harun

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The clip, meant to promote the ministry's entrepreneurial programme at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, has garnered 200,000 views so far.

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh called on the Prime Minister to dismiss Rina over the fiasco, saying the ones who needed to wake up were Rina and her deputy.

"How could a minister have allowed such a script and promotional video to downgrade and disparage women?

"There has not been any progress on women's issues in Rina's three years in the Cabinet," she added.

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In June, she was embroiled in claims that her ministry was protecting welfare home Rumah Bonda after its founder was charged for allegedly abusing a teenager with Down Syndrome.

In December, Rina was seen in a video cleaning the floor of a school in Salak Tinggi with a waterjet after floods.

She was called out by numerous social media users for "putting on a show" while frontliners were working to aid flood victims without any publicity or reward.

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In late March 2020, the then women and family development ministry under Rina also came under fire for "household happiness" posters that urged women to adopt a coaxing attitude and "Doraemon voice" when dealing with their spouses.

Activists slammed the posters for their implied message that blamed women for domestic conflict.