Siti Zailah Mohammad Youssef has been widely criticized for making sexist remarks about women.
The Malaysian Minister for Women, Family, and Community Development has been accused of ‘normalizing’ domestic violence by encouraging men to beat their spouses to demonstrate how strict he is and ‘how much he wants her to change.’
Youssef posted a two-minute video on Instagram titled “Mother’s Tips,” in which she first recommended husbands to speak to their “stubborn” wives to “discipline” them. If they do not improve their attitude, they must sleep separately for three days.
‘However, if the wife still refuses to take the advice, or change her behavior after the sleeping separation, then the husbands can try the physical touch approach, by striking her gently, to show his strictness and how much he wants her to change,’
Siti Zailah suggested in the video.
To win over their partners, the deputy minister, a parliamentarian for the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, advised women to only talk directly to their husbands if they had permission.
‘Speak to your husbands when they are calm, finished eating, have prayed, and are relaxed,’
Siti Zailah said.
‘When we want to speak, ask for permission first.’
The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality, a network of women’s rights organizations, accused Siti Zailah of “normalising” domestic abuse and urged that she withdraw from her post as deputy women’s minister.
‘The deputy minister must step down for normalising domestic violence, which is a crime in Malaysia, as well as for perpetuating ideas and behaviors that are opposed to gender equality,‘ a joint statement read.
Edited By- Subbuthai Padma
Published By- Satheesh Kumar
