I’m not a big fan of politics - in fact, it’s the way Malaysian politics work, and the hybrid of unscrupulous politicians with ulterior motives and religious extremists that throws me off, makes me sick and thus, nurturing me to shy away from the prickly topic since young.
The Parliament Saga
Headline goes: Now, media barred from Parliament Lobby
KUALA LUMPUR: In another move that has journalists infuriated, the Parliament administration slapped a ban on them entering the lobby.
More than 100 representatives from various media organisations were allowed at a small corner, where press conferences are normally held.
It’s fresh out of the oven, and it’s splattered all over the newspaper headlines today. Another typical example of hampering press freedom in Malaysia, another typical case study of how badly the government is at public relations. Basically the whole saga started when each newspaper is allowed to have 5 reporters at the pre-defined ‘Media area’ (which is cordoned off with tape and sign boards, treating press personnels like pests) - so reports will have to holler, jump or execute any possible attention-grabbing stunts in order to get a hold of a passing MP or Minister. To further stifle the effort of free, truthful journalism, the reporters are only allowed to enter the lobby area between 1pm and 2.30pm.
And so the reporters are smart enough to stage a boycott and refuse to interview ANY of the MP or Ministers after the shocking discovery. This will show them who’s the real boss - it’s we people, the power of majority, that are supposed to have unhindered access to information. Not those boot lickers and whatnots.
The Outrageous Ban on Lipsticks
Headline goes: Malaysian city bans lipstick for Muslim women
(CNN) — Authorities in a northern Malaysian city have forbidden Muslim women from wearing bright lipstick and noisy high-heeled shoes, saying the directive is intended to prevent sexual assaults and “illicit sex.”
The gruesome discovery that some idiotic doofus in the Kota Bahru authority thinks that it’s the choice of lipstick and footwear that determines the chances of a female being sexually assaulted, harrassed or raped has made me feel extremely ashamed of my country. When did Malaysia start to reverse on changes and embark on the journey of reverting back to the good ol’ stoneage days?
So bright lipstick and the sounds the stilettos make with the ground make males sexually excited and aroused? And they blame it on the WOMEN for being raped - just like blaming victims to be rich if they’re robbed. Gender discrimination is not uncommon in Malaysia, but when did it escalated into something so despicable and uncivilised by modern standards?
White blouses are sexy?
Headline goes: ‘Sexy’ school uniform slammed
Kuala Lumpur - A Malaysian Islamic group on Wednesday condemned the uniform worn by girls at government schools, saying it encouraged rape and pre-marital sex.
“The white blouse is too transparent for girls and it becomes a source of attraction,” National Islamic Students Association of Malaysia vice president Munirah Bahari said in a statement.
“It becomes a distraction to men, who are drawn to it, whether or not they like looking at it,” she said, calling for a review of uniform policy so that it did not violate Islamic ideals.
Munirah Bahari must be out of her mind - how the hell does a white school blouse makes males sexually aroused and subjects wearers to a higher risk of sexual assault or harassment? Shouldn’t she be addressing the root of the problem instead of something that sounds so freaking childish, unrefined and brainless? She discriminating against women, which she happens to be one as well.
Premarital sex and unwanted pregnancy in Malaysia are on the rise because of a COMBINATION of social factors and definitely not because rapists think white blouses are sexy. The government should instead concentrate on strengthening the family bond, encourage health behavior, spend more money on educating teenagers about the importance of safe sex and being loyal to a parter in relationships.
12 responses to I Say It in YOUR Face!
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June 25th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I don’t like M’sia gov since like.. 10 years ago? =p
I still read United Daily News everyday, but I skipped the M’sian part. =D
The 2nd news (in your post) is totally insane, hahaha, lame politicians! =S They’re becoming like the Mid east govs? lol…
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June 29th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Even some Middle Eastern countries don’t have religious laws are strict as the ones over in Malaysia! I don’t remember Dubai requesting hotels to separate swimming pools into gender-segregated ones. Well Terengganu, a Malaysian state, tried to pass this law once…
June 25th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
when i saw ur tweet i was like wtf
it’s pretty messed up huh? control freaks…
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June 26th, 2008 at 4:45 am
OMG this is absolutely ridiculous, the Malaysian Press and the Malaysian people have to fight back otherwise more and more of these ludicrous laws will be passed.
I take offence to the last 2 laws which now attempt to tell people (especially women) what to wear as it can lead to rape- red lipsticks and white blouses. Excuse me? Nothing leads to rape! If a man has rape on his mind, he will rape and it doesn’t depend on how sexually available the woman looks. Men who rape do it for the feeling of power it gives them, not because of what the woman looks like. And by penalising the women by the way they look- they’re actually blaiming the victims and the innocents instead of those who commit rape.
Instead of passing all these stupid laws, maybe they should actually increase sentences for men convicted of rape or have better convictions. That will serve better than to remove white blouses and red lipsticks.
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June 29th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Yep. We definitely have too. It’s disheartening that the government is actually allowing the outrageous views of some religious extremists to influence it’s decision-making procedures. And it’s weird that how they ignore the fact that Malaysia is a multiracial country - just like Singapore, and see how excellent Singapore did in encourages harmonious coexistence of various races. I just feel disappoint that there are always someone (most probably some religious dickhead) trying to pick the old scab of religious riots that happened in the past.
Scientists came to a conclusion recently that most men commit rape because of their thirst for power and dominance and not because of how sexually the women is dressed. Anyway, how on earth are lipsticks and sounds of stilettos hitting the floor are SEXY?!
p/s: Malaysia is quite famous of it’s blatant gender discrimination
June 28th, 2008 at 1:23 am
i read the part about the white blouse uniform a few weeks ago and i was totally shocked when she said that. It’s plain stupid of her to say that and clearly she is speaking without using her brains. After that, i saw an article written by marina mahathir shooting back at her and gosh it was so true and hilarious as i’ve seriously never knew that the girl herself will blame all the sexual assaults on the uniform like as if it’s directly transparent.
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June 29th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Same here. I couldn’t figure out why they think white blouses are sexy… the blouses are considered restrictive and conservation by modern standards - high neckline and long sleeves - can anything be more conservative than that?
June 28th, 2008 at 4:36 am
GOOD GRIEF!
Man, that is ridiculous. I had no idea about these headlines. I read about your Tweet, but I didn’t know that you were going to elaborate on it.
Personally I find it STUPID that high heels and lipstick would encourage so-called “illicit sex”. Clearly the people who made this rule haven’t gotten laid since the Reformation. Then again, I kinda had a problem with Malaysia’s lack of freedom of religion and was deeply saddened when hearing about the case of Lina Joy. I have been told that it’s not that apparent when going there, but it still stuck out like a sore thumb to me. But I admire you — REALLY — for speaking out about this. I’ll be honest.. you may or may not get flak for speaking out, but you’re still pretty damn amazing for speaking out.
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June 29th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I didn’t really want to write about one single incident, but after so many repulsive headlines over the course of a few days, I couldn’t control myself so I couldn’t help it but just voice my utter disappointment of the Malaysian government.
In the past, I was proud of my country because it is one of the few Muslim countries that are spearheading the modernisation move without causing much internal conflict and social disintegration. However, in the recent years, the government seems to be throwing the gear in REVERSE instead…
p/s: Just like what you’ve suspected in the email, I think something fishy is going on since my blog was down for two days after I’ve written this post. Hmmm
June 28th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Hi TeddY!! Sorry it’s been a while since I’ve been here and come back… but I think now I am back for sure. If |Lipsticks and High ‘noisy’ heels were the targets and perpetrators of Rape and Assault, then I would be danged, and should have been assaulted numerous times already!! It’s so ridiculous at how some of these people can come up with these ideas to restrict freedom on people! People forget the true taste of freedom when they live under fear and fear that is instilled by the ones who are supposed to be the protectors of the nations as well… Speechless. I am just speechless.
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June 29th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Glad to see you back in action, Destiny! You’ll be shocked if you hear this - a state in Malaysia proposed that swimming pools in hotels and public areas alike should be GENDER-SEGREGATED. What the hell
and yeap I’m disappointed that many of the government’s decisions are influenced by religious extremists. When did they became so brainless?
June 30th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
WTH?! this is ridiculous. utterly ridiculous. period. and I’m referring to the banning of lipstick, and high heels. and the statement about the white blouse being sexy. please, can’t they open up their mind. is it me, or are they tooooooo conservative?
I agree with you, when it comes to sexual assault, it’s not the women who should be blamed. except in some cases, if the women are wearing very, very, revealing clothings, at the wrong place and at the wrong time, and even so, it’s still not the women who caused it. maybe those women just provoke those stupid horny men to rape them. it’s like a murder case; it’s the killer who pulled the trigger -not the victim.
about blouse white being sexy, and they are referring to the SCHOOL UNIFORM is ridiculous. period. case close. why are they blaming the children, (READ: children and teenagers) for what they didn’t do? it’s the rapist, for god’s sake. not them. geez.
maybe, even if they do think what they said was right, why do they have to ban lipstick and high heels? maybe they should just advice the public. banning is too extreme.
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