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Thursday, July 17, 2014

Muslim scholars show where Umno lawyer went wrong in sexist remark

An Umno lawyer’s remark that a woman cannot be a menteri besar because of her menstrual cycle is discriminatory and shallow, Muslim scholars said today, adding that it was not necessary for leaders to pray beside the sultan.
Dr Maszlee Malik from the International Islamic University Malaysia said Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun's (pic) arguments were shallow and demeaning towards women.
"The lawyer's statement that women are not qualified to become menteri besar is not only legally baseless, but has shades of gender discrimination and is extremely shallow," he told The Malaysian Insider today.
"It is unimaginable that in this‎ modern age, where women are prime ministers and presidents in advanced and Muslim countries, there are still those who interpret the law in such an archaic manner." 
Mazlee said Malaysian law did not prevent a woman from even becoming the prime minister.‎
"The fact is, there is no obstacle for a woman to become menteri besar, chief minister, even the prime minister of Malaysia, whether in the Federal Constitution or the state laws."
Former Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin was also not in favour of Hafarizam, and said there should be a distinction between politics and religion. 
"Politicians should stay out of religion. Politics is politics,‎ leave religion to the religious scholars."
Asri (pic, left) said Hafarizam's statement was inappropriate, adding that leaders were not obligated to pray beside the sultan.‎
"This is not an issue for a leader. A menteri besar does not have to pray next to the sultan.
‎"There are no such conditions in Islam. A sultan must pray, and so must a menteri besar."

He also criticised Hafarizam for using menses as a reason why a woman could not become a leader, adding that he should not have used it as an excuse to oppose ‎Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Izmail's appointment as menteri besar.
"If you want to say Wan Azizah is not suited to become menteri besar, just say so. You don't have to use religion.
"I don't know whether or not Wan Azizah is fit for the position, that is not my business."
Hafarizam was quoted by the New Straits Times on Tuesday as saying that a woman may not be a suitable candidate as she has menses.
He was believed to be speculating that Dr Wan Azizah could replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor menteri besar.
Dr Wan Azizah has been tipped as one of the candidates who may replace Khalid soon, aside from PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.‎
Hafarizam said despite no specific clause excluding a woman from the menteri besar's post, a menstruating woman would face obstacles in her official duties, adding that this was the reason there has never been a female menteri besar.
"This is because should a woman menteri besar suffer from 'uzur sharie' (period), there will be many obstacles for her to accompany the sultan at religious functions.
"Hence, the article under the Selangor constitution, for example, may not hinder a woman from becoming a menteri besar, but by convention, there could be problems because of the said circumstances."
- TMI

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