SHAH ALAM, 23 Dec: The move by the Federal Territories Minister, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who likened the position of women to property, is uncivilised.
Executive Councillor for Women’s Affairs, Rodziah Ismail, said to equate women, and the status of women, to property is a notion lacking in culture and religion.
“When the minister likened property to women…and does not feel guilty saying it, it is a sign of the widening gap of understanding of what should be known by a minister and what is actually known by the minister.
“It has many times been reminded, but understanding is still lacking about the sensitivity to respect women,” said Rodziah in her press statement.
Rodziah said that all civilisations that are highly regarded by humanity, places dignity and the status of women equal to that of human beings.
“How can a minister issue such a statement with impunity, and seeming like it has not been thought about?
“It is frightening that a minister is ignorant to the effects of his words, which is very backward and demeans all women in this world,” said Rodziah.
She also questioned the role of the Minister in charge of women’s affairs, who is now keeping silent after looking at the behaviour of the minister who issued the statement.
“Steps should be taken to ensure that all ministers are sensitive about respecting women in the overall context so that such degrading of women does not happen again.
“Such statements have been repeated, humiliating women in every corner of humanity, and it should be stopped by the law,” she said.
