NOVEMBER 18 ― I can’t imagine how KJ must have responded upon first hearing the question from the MP for Rantau Panjang Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PAS) regarding a possible dress code for female athletes to ensure that their attire would be Shariah compliant.
The subsequent interjections after answering the query during last Monday’s debate in Parliament by Opposition backbenchers, in particular Lumut MP Mohd Imran Abdul Hamid, that somehow skimpy attire used by these athletes would lead to adultery were noteworthy in their sexism and discrimination as well as their level of ignorance.
“Because of the interaction where we see sexy clothing that could cause stimulation, we fear that it could lead to adultery,” said Mohd Imran. “You may score marks on the international sports arena but you will not score marks in the afterlife.”
No evidence, study or data (earthly or otherwise) was cited to substantiate or prove the link between athletic attire and adultery.
The Minister of Youth and Sports probably rolled his eyes in exasperation and uttered an epithet not suitable for print. At least, that is what I would do.
Rubbish is what we heard on Monday during the winding-up of the debate on Budget 2016. .
Parliament spends an unacceptable and unexplainable amount of time obsessing over what women and girls put on their bodies ― whether they are flight attendants, school students or athletes.
Siti Zailah is the same wakil rakyat who asked the government in another parliamentary session to impose dress codes on women to curb sexual crimes.
Often these issues of supposedly parliamentary priority are dressed up as concern for the wellbeing of women and girls i.e. preventing sexual harassment, assault, rape and adultery. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Rather than address real issues such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, gender based violence and introducing comprehensive sexual reproductive health education in school to teach respect, dignity and responsibility among boys and girls, these legislators prefer to point the finger.
It seems that they blame women and girls, based on what they wear or even by their very presence, as being intentionally provocative to men. They insinuate that men cannot help themselves and that really the women and girls are to blame if anything happens.
Such harmful attitudes contribute towards the misconception of men which excuses them from actions such as domestic violence, incest, sexual harassment, violence and rape.
When talking about issues of sex and sexuality, I notice that our MPs are often talking out of their arses. Often ill-informed, ignorant and coloured by sexist attitudes.
But the angle in which these issues are debated can only lead me to wonder why people like Mohd Imran and Siti Zailah have to sexualise such matters to begin with. Do they not see the sport, discipline, years of hard work involved and the achievement itself? Why do they seem to immediately focus their attention on looking at the bosom, crotch, or body shape of the athlete in their attire? Their discriminatory, sexist and perverse attitudes are disrespectful, humiliating and are not worthy of our athletes.
It is clear that we must work not only to change the attitudes of men but we must also change the mindset of women who presume to act as moral policy enforcers who are ever ready to go after and punish their fellow sisters.
Too often religion is misused as a justification to impose misogynistic and sexist views. We should treat women and girls as fellow human beings of equal worth, respect and dignity.
I’m glad that the Minister has been firm in his position on this issue. “As Minister of Sport, I still hold to the principle that it is up to the athlete on what he or she wants to wear as long as the attire is regulation approved by the federation, by the sport. That’s his or her choice, what he or she wants to wear.” This is what he said back in June which was repeated again on Monday.
Besides earlier indicating that such incidences smack of sexism, he stated that hypocrisy or a double standard exists when it came to female athletes. When referring to the earlier criticism on Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, he said “I think there’s a lot of hypocrisy going around here and I don’t tolerate it. I don’t care what people say. This is sports. Leave sports alone.”
And that, ladies and gentlemen, should be the final word.
*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
