Perception over practicality

JUST how tight is “tight”? Does the judgement lie in the eye of the beholder?

Most of us see the uniforms Malaysian women nurses wear as, well, just a uniform. But Kuantan MP Wan Razali Wan Nor of PAS and Perikatan Nasional (PAS-PN) sees them as tight-fitting and too revealing of body shape.

While debating the White Paper of Public Health Reforms in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday, Wan Razali said the government should consider changing nurses’ uniforms as they are too tight and not syariah-compliant.

There was almost instant reaction, of course.

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said the uniforms are practical as they do not restrict movement when nurses carry out their duties.

“In the healthcare line, everyone needs to be fast on their feet and, at times, ready to sprint to save lives,” said the MMA in a statement.

What did Wan Razali see in the uniform worn by Malaysian nurses?

A viral meme cheekily explained via two photographs that what the nurses wear is a”practical uniform” while what PAS-PN sees is women wearing sexy nurse costumes.

(My unsolicited advice to the Yang Berhomat from Kuantan: Avert your gaze and focus on why you are in the hospital or clinic.)

To be fair to Perikatan, not all politicians from the coalition think that way. Component party Gerakan has urged the Kuantan MP to retract his assertion and apologise to healthcare workers in the country.

I do wonder what Perikatan chairman and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin or Perikatan secretary-general and Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin think about the PAS MP’s remark.

Are they worried such a comment could cause them to lose the progressive votes? Or do they think that their race and religion rhetoric trumps such triviality? Or even that such a remark will enhance Perikatan’s religion and race cred?

This same week, another Perikatan MP gave the impression – especially to progressive voters – that the lawmakers from the Opposition coalition are from the Jurassic age.

In a video that went viral, Langkawi MP Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (Bersatu) can be seen and heard rambling in Parliament about whether there is a security system in place to stop people “spying” on what MPs talk about in the august House. Kampar MP Chong Zhemin (DAP) told the Langkawi MP not to talk nonsense as Parliament proceedings are broadcast live, and the whole world can tune in.

This week I had lunch at a restaurant known as the “Klang Hilton” in Klang town. The talk while we had its signature dish – steamed pomfret – was about the exceptional quality of some unity government ministers. My businessman friend was impressed with the professionalism of Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, both from PKR, and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick of Upko,

The consensus among those at the table was that it would be a significant loss for Malaysia if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government collapsed as these efficient and effective ministers might be replaced by politicians from the Jurassic age.

It is MPs from Langkawi and Kuantan who are spooking the progressive voters. I’m curious whether Muhyiddin or Hamzah care about what they think. Or has Perikatan’s top leadership given up on them and focusing solely on winning their core base, which is conservative – and largely rural – Malays?

It is a rational strategy for the polls in the incoming six states even though it might not be good for national unity or the country in general.

The state polls will be a second referendum on who has the support of Malay voters.

In the 15th General Election (GE15) in November, Perikatan (via Bersatu and PAS) won 72 of its 74 MP seats in Malay-majority constituencies. Various political analysts have told me that Pakatan received about 11% of total Malay votes, Umno about 33% and Perikatan 52%.

The big question to be answered in Kedah, Kelantan, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Selangor, and Terengganu is whether Malay support for Perikatan will increase. Will the Green Wave, as it was called in GE15, turn into a Green Tsunami?

We’ll also find out whether Umno remains relevant among its core base, the Malays.

Based on social media rhetoric, Perikatan has become more Umno than Umno. After it agreed to work with traditional bogeyman DAP in the unity government, Umno, some say, is as “mild” as Amanah, a party known for splintering from the conservatism of PAS.

If Perikatan wins most of the Malay-majority seats, it could legitimately say that the unity government doesn’t represent the Malays.

However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR) is confident that Perikatan’s performance in the coming six state elections will not impact the unity government’s position. In an interview with Al-Jazeera TV, Anwar said he is confident in his government’s two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The Tambun MP might have got his MP maths right, but the 148 MPs supporting him can be reduced to 81 (the number of Pakatan MPs) if Perikatan wins big in the Malay seats.

If Perikatan gets into power, nurses might need to wear uniforms that the eye of the beholder considers loose. We might all have to don baggier clothing.