PETALING JAYA, July 9 — London’s flamboyant mayor Boris Johnson has once again talked himself into controversy, suggesting during a forum attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that Malaysian women attended university because they needed to find husbands there.
At the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) held in London — the first to be held outside a Muslim nation — Najib had remarked that women in Malaysia played prominent roles in society.
“Before coming here, my officials have told me that the latest university intake in Malaysia, a Muslim country, 68 per cent will be women entering our universities,” Najib said.
This prompted Johnson to interject that Malaysian women must have done so because they “have got to find men to marry”, according to British newspaper The Guardian.
While the jest drew laughter — and groans — when it was made, Johnson has since found himself under a barrage of accusations for his alleged sexism.
“I think the Malaysians were a bit taken aback by the remark. I felt that the comment was a bit naff and not in the spirit of the event, since the Malaysians/WIEF came across as very sincere about promoting women in business,” Sophia Furber, a reporter who attended the event, told The Guardian.
“There were some groans from audience members — especially from professional, hijab-wearing ladies.”
Furber’s brickbats were, however, more restrained than those subsequently hurled at Johnson.
“Boris Johnson may think his buffoonery allows him to get away with his outdated opinions but this isn’t funny. These comments are insulting to the women across the country and across the world who have gone to university, worked hard and used their talents to get on,” Kate Green, the Labour party’s shadow equality minister, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
Johnson had come under similar accusations last year, after political rivals compiled evidence ostensibly showing his “disrespectful, patronising” treatment for female opponents.
“I have not been more robust towards female rather than male assembly members and I do not believe I have been remotely sexist,” Johnson had said then.
Najib was in the UK to attend the WIEF and to promote bilateral ties. He also attended the launch of the Battersea project owned by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and two other firms.
