Yeo Bee Yin slams Tuan Ibrahim for 'sexist' polygamy remarks

KUALA LUMPUR: Yeo Bee Yin has slammed Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PAS-Kubang Kerian) for his remarks on polygamy, which the Puchong MP said was sexist.

"It is impolite to encourage polygamy and it hurts the feelings of women and wives in the Dewan Rakyat and outside," she said while Women's, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri was winding up her ministerial reply on the Budget 2024 in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 22).

"How would they feel when an MP encourages polygamy?" asked Yeo (PH-Puchong).

She said women should not be deemed "problematic" for being single, adding that this is the right and personal choice of each and every woman.

Yeo urged Tuan Ibrahim to retract his statement.

"This culture cannot continue in the Dewan Rakyat. Don't bully women just because we are smaller in number (in Parliament)," she said.

However, Tuan Ibrahim refused to retract his statement and cited statistics of unmarried men and women.

He also asked Nancy if her ministry had plans to address this, saying he is concerned that this will have an impact on the economy.

Deputy Speaker Alice Lau told Yeo to file a motion if she found Tuan Ibrahim's statement sexist.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tuan Ibrahim had said many in the country still find polygamy a sensitive issue.

"When we discuss the issue of polygamy, it is as if we are committing a crime.

"We must be rational. If a man is capable, qualified and is fair, a huge moral support must be given to them," he said while debating the 2024 Supply Bill for the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry at the committee stage today (Nov 22).

Without disclosing his source of information, Tuan Ibrahim said that there are more than 8.4 million single women in the country.

On social media, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said that the issue of getting married late is not a problem that needs solving.