Party should not impose its will on others, says Lo’ Lo’
(The Star) SHAH ALAM: The issue of requiring women journalists to wear a tudung or a scarf while covering the PAS muktamar should not have been brought up by the delegates as it was a trivial matter, said PAS women representative Dr Lo’ Lo’ Ghazali yesterday.
Ticking off the delegates for bringing up the matter, she said the party should not impose on others what they should or should not wear.
In her winding up speech, the Titiwangsa MP said nowhere in the party’s constitution was it specified that women must wear the scarf.
“PAS must be seen as an inclusive and not an exclusive party. We need to use the soft approach by offering advice and not by trying to use force,” said Dr Lo’ Lo’.
A similar approach, she said, should also be adopted by the party towards the group that she termed as “dual world creatures” (transvestites) who were plying their trade behind the party’s headquarters in Lorong Haji Taib in Kuala Lumpur.
“We are still unable to tackle that problem. Do we refuse their request if one day they say they want to attend our muktamar? So please be more open,” she added.
Dr Lo’ Lo’ who was the sole woman candidate elected to the party’s central committee also lamented the delegates’ rejection of other women candidates.
Meanwhile, Wanita MCA has also criticised calls made by PAS members that women reporters wear the tudung and be separated from the men.
It’s chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said the narrow-minded thinking of the PAS delegates was akin to the Taliban regime.
“Malaysian women have made great progress. They are career minded and hold jobs no different from men.
“Rather than relegating women, PAS should treat them as equal and respect and support the advancement of women,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Chew also condemned PAS for having double standards.
“Female reporters covering Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin’s assignments during the Bukit Gantang by-election wore the same type of attire as at the muktamar. At that time, PAS did not object,” she said.
