Threats against BFM host sign of patriarchal, misogynistic Malaysia, forum told

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 — The fierce backlash a BFM journalist received over a video discussing hudud had less to do with Islamic law and more to do with the misogynistic and patriarchal nature of modern-day Malaysia, several panellists told a forum last night.

The panellists, which included lawyers and lawmakers, said if Aisyah Tajuddin, the journalist who received rape and death threats for questioning the implementation of hudud in Kelantan, had been a man, the backlash would not have been as violent.

“I’m confident, if Edry was the host in that episode of Kupas, I’m confident no one would threaten to rape him,” Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said of Projek Dialog’s Edry Faizal, the intended host for the BFM video.

“Because she’s a woman, this shows the misogynist sentiment especially in Malay society because Malay society is patriarchal in nature,” he added at the forum titled “Klip Video BFM: Siapa Yang Melampau” which translates to “BFM Video Clip: Who went too far?”

Zairil added that the threatening response to the video, was a clear indication of the immaturity of a Malaysian public that does not know how to handle public discourse.

“The reaction that went too far shows how immature our society is not just against women, but our society doesn’t know how to handle freedom of speech or handle discourse,” he said.

Human rights lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri agreed, adding that it was crucial to fight against sexism that has been institutionalised in the country.

“This is not just bullying, its intolerance against women. It’s violence. Sexism, misogyny, patriarchy, we have to cut it out,” she said.

“Of course the state has some part in it, but we give power to sexism, misogyny and patriarchy. We must say it is wrong,” she added.

Civil liberties lawyer Syahredzan Johan added that there is an undertone in patriarchal Malaysia that insists upon women not taking a position of authority or risk being physically hurt.

“There is this undertone that a woman should know her place, a woman shouldn’t be so opinionated and women who are saying too much, you can actually legitimately do things like rape her or shut her up and all that.

“There is that added dimension that made it so much worse because Aisyah is a woman,” he said.

Syahredzan added that although Malaysia portrays itself as a moderate country, women in neighbouring states like Indonesia are far better off.

“The position of women there, Indonesia has had a woman president and women leaders do occupy the highest hierarchy of political parties in Indonesia.

“In Malaysia, if you’re a woman at best you can think of occupying a high position of the women’s head. Further than that, it’s very difficult,” he said.

Fadiah added that it was important for Muslims to be well-read and to understand that differing opinions are a commonplace.

“We have to be more honest when talking about it, and we must understand that as Muslims, we must start to read.

“In Islam, there are differing opinions and that’s okay, it’s fine. It’s something that has to be discussed,” she said.

Malay Mail Online reported last Friday that the BFM video had attracted vitriol from social media users with Malay names who accused Aisyah of insulting Islam, some of whom threatened to rape her, to burn her alive or to shoot her in the head.

In the video, Aisyah points out that even as Kelantan is attempting to implement the Islamic penal code, the east coast state is facing other problems like its homeless flood victims, as well as increasing drug and divorce cases.

BFM has since issued an apology and taken down the video that was posted on its website and YouTube channel last Thursday, followed by an apology from Aisyah.