Teresa sees red over Ibrahim’s sexism

Tarani Palani

Sexist remarks by Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, blaming wives for their husbands philandering, earns the wrath of Seputeh MP.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ibrahim Ali’s sexists comments that wives are at fault for their husband’s extra-marital affairs drew the ire of Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

Kok came out with guns blazing and lambasted the Perkasa chief saying such “deep-seated sexism” was most disgraceful and also revealed Ibrahim’s low regard of women.

Yesterday in Parliament, Ibrahim who is also the Pasir Mas MP asked what the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) was doing to educate wives on their responsibilities.

“There are times when husbands have urges (ada keinginan)… but when they come home to their wives, the wives will say, ‘wait, I’m cooking’, or ‘wait, I’m getting ready to visit relatives’.

“In Islam, wives are supposed to stop everything to fulfil their husbands’ demands,” said Ibrahim.

“Husbands driving home after work see things that are sexually arousing (menaikan semangat) and go to their wives to ease their urges (semangat). So much so there are those who go to private places (tempat-tempat yang sulit) to satisfy their urges, and then (unsavoury) videos are exposed… this is why I want a proper explanation as to whether wives understand their roles,” he said.

Remarks also demeaning to men
Kok, who is also the Selangor state senior exco, said Ibrahim was being insensitive of a women’s right to her body.

“He expects women to present their bodies to their husbands on demand, regardless of how the women may feel, as though  women are meant to be unfeeling sex slaves,” she said.

She also reminded Ibrahim that non-consensual sex, even in a marriage is a form of sexual violence which is a crime against  both sexes.

She said people like Ibrahim, with a low regard for women, perpetuate a patriarchal system which subsequently is a stumbling block in enacting pro-women laws.

With such low opinion of women, a sexist like Ibrahim is not qualified to be a representative of half his constituency who are  women, said Kok.

Kok also said that Ibrahim’s comments were equally demeaning to men as its paints a picture of men as completely lacking in self-control, as though (they) were animals.

“He even excuses them for committing adultery which is a most hurtful act of betrayal. Ibrahim must apologise for his remarks and submit himself to gender sensitivity training,” she said.

If he fails to apologise, Kok suggested that Parliamentary Gender Caucus reprimands him and send a strong message that the Dewan Rakyat does not tolerate such sexist mentality.