KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmakers are “unthinking and disrespectful” of women with their persistent views on the need for polygamy, Wanita DAP head Teo Nie Ching said.
Teo, who is also deputy communications and digital minister, pointed to two instances which she described as part of a “troubling pattern” where PN MPs bring up the practice in the Dewan Rakyat.
Claiming that such comments reflect the “quality, or lack thereof” in the opposition, Teo urged the MPs in question – Lumut MP Nordin Ahmad Ismail and Kubang Kerian MP Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man – to hold themselves to higher regard when speaking as MPs.
“I am appalled and disgusted by the continuous harmful narrative that PN is building that leans towards sexism and the denigration of women,” Teo said in a statement today.
“Having been privy to these two instances, I must say I am deeply disturbed by the patterns of thinking these MPs have about polygamy and the role of women.
“They spend so much time frivolously parading it around when they should look into more pertinent issues such as the increase in divorce cases arising from adultery, failure to provide alimony and other domestic issues,” the Kulai MP added.
She also cited figures from the Statistics Department on how as of 2021, there were 43,934 divorce cases and from that number, more than 23,000 cases involved young couples.
“However, do we see PN members advocating for a better environment in which young couples can thrive?” she asked.
“No. Rather than use the time allocated to them by the rakyat, they would much prefer to campaign for polygamy because that is what gets them views and attention.”
On Tuesday, during his question to a minister, Bersatu’s Nordin recited a rhyme: “Ada hati nak tambah isteri, tambah isteri nombor dua, Assalamualaikum YB menteri, soalan saya nombor dua (I have the intention of getting a second wife, my question is No 2).”
He later reportedly defended the comment, asserting that the poem was merely made in jest.
Yesterday, Tuan Ibrahim, who is also PAS deputy president, suggested that the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry provide moral support for polygamy to those who could afford it as a “solution” for unmarried women.
Teo’s fellow DAP MP Yeo Bee Yin then accused Tuan Ibrahim of being sexist, calling his proposal hurtful to women, besides urging the PAS leader to retract his statement. – November 23, 2023
 lawmakers are “unthinking and disrespectful” of women with their persistent views on the need for polygamy, Wanita DAP head Teo Nie Ching said.){kind=link}