Act against RPK for sexist, racist remarks, police urged
The UK-based blogger is alleged to have insinuated that Malaysian Indian women who voice their grievances in the country are prostitutes.
(FMT) – Civil society groups and political parties have urged the authorities to take action against controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin over sexist and racist remarks made in a recent blog post.
The groups, led by PKR Wanita vice chief G Sivamalar, lodged a police report at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters today against the United Kingdom-based blogger who is commonly known as RPK.
Sivamalar said RPK’s blog posting, titled “The Tale of White and Indian Women” published on Nov 2, could affect race relations in the country and strain ties between Malaysia and India, given that RPK is considered a pro-Najib Razak blogger.
Sivamalar said that RPK, in his blog post which attacked civil society leader Ambiga Sreenevasan, had insinuated that Malaysian Indian women who voiced their grievances in the country were prostitutes.
She added that he also made a sweeping statement about prostitution in India.
In his blog post, RPK had said, “In her (Ambiga) own country about 100 million Indians are involved in the prostitution industry. That is more than three times the population of her adopted country.”
He also said, “If this Indian woman were back in India she would probably be working in a brothel pimping children for a living.”
Sivamalar said that RPK’s remarks were disgusting and amounted to criminal intimidation against Ambiga.
“Malaysian women and civil society at large will not tolerate this kind of harassment against another woman,” she said.
Veteran civil society activist Ivy Josiah said RPK’s attacks reflected a disturbing pattern in the country.
“Every time a thinking woman criticises the government, she is subject to sexist attacks, threats and harassment.”
Pakatan Harapan Wanita assistant secretary Nurainie Haziqah said that RPK’s attack was not just against Ambiga or Indian women but all women.
“Women should not stay silent if we are harassed. We must speak up for our rights.”
Others present at the police station today included representatives from Tenaganita, Sisters In Islam, Women’s Aid Organisation, Suara Rakyat Malaysia and New Gen Party.
RPK had attacked Ambiga after she was named as Sarawak Report’s source in its article which alleged PAS leaders had accepted RM90 million from Prime Minister Najib Razak.
PAS is suing Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown for defamation in London.
