Outcry over Bung’s “Not Pretty” Woman Remark

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Malaysians hit out at Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar Radin’s “crude” statement on women in relation to the hijab ban by international hotel operators.

Bung had asked the Government to revoke the licences of hotels that discriminate against Muslim women who don the hijab (headscarf) at work.

He had also bluntly told hotel operators who insist on their front desk staff not donning the hijab to “get out” of the country.

“To me, this kind of hotel operators and management must be taught a lesson as they are being disrespectful to our country.

“If they want to conduct their business according to their own ways, they can get out,” Bung said.

Yesterday, in the Dewan Rakyat, he said: “What is the problem in wearing the tudung? If the woman is attractive, she will remain attractive even with a tudung.

“But if she is not pretty, even if she is telanjang (nude), who would want her?”

Netizens took to social media to voice their outrage, with many calling his “not pretty” statement insulting and offensive to women, as well as labelling him a “misogynistic”.

The Star quoted social media user Hatta Morshidi saying: “I can’t believe that this guy is an MP. His behaviour is unbecoming for a person of such stature. Don’t try to be cute as you are not. Please PM Sir. Don’t nominate this guy again for the coming GE. He is a liability to your Party n an embarrassment to us all.”

Female opposition MPs also condemned Bung for his remark, with Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar calling it “abhorrent and vile” and saying he had taken the objectification of women to an “entirely new level”, FMT reported.

DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said while Bung’s defence of headscarf-wearing women in the hotel industry was “great”, there was no need for him to insert comments about looks and nudity in the same breath.

“Something is wrong in the mind of Bung. He never fails to make nonsensical and sexist remarks on women in Parliament. 

 “This kind of remark is derogatory to women and is really uncalled for.

“No one will remember his defence of women donning headscarves. Everyone will remember how he belittled women who wear one,” she said to FMT.

PKR’s Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin reportedly said Bung has to be more polished and refined in his manners and thoughts, and that his analogies and dictions were always out of place.

“But sad to say such tendencies are synonymous with him and create negative perceptions of him being sexist. 

 “It is unbecoming of an experienced MP,” Zuraida was quoted as saying.