PETALING JAYA: Education minister Fadhlina Sidek has defended Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over allegations that he made a sexist comment to a Form Six student who took part in a public forum.
Asked to comment, Fadhlina simply said “misconstrued”, and brushed off further queries.
Anwar has been on the receiving end of brickbats for making a controversial comment to a secondary school student during a town hall session in Negeri Sembilan last week.
The prime minister was asked by a Form Six student how Malaysia can become a first-class nation in the future, and what the government and youths can do towards realising this ideal.
She also asked about Putrajaya’s strategy in dealing with the declining value of the ringgit.
In response, Anwar praised how eloquently the student had delivered her question and reportedly said: “If I was young, I would have asked (for your) phone number.”
This was panned by Bersatu’s Sasha Lyna Abdul Latiff, who demanded an apology from Anwar, saying the comment was a “stunning display of discriminatory and sexist language”.
The call for an apology was echoed by Muda deputy president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz, who said the comments were unacceptable, especially from someone in a position of power.
Veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin said it was fine for the prime minister to make jokes, but it should be funny and not distasteful.
Kadir said Anwar cannot act like a “bashful teenager or like an amorous ageing film star”, adding that a prime minister should be dignified in his behaviour and manners.
“Joking about asking a teenage student for her phone number, had he been younger, was out of line. He’s the prime minister of the age of open and spontaneous communications.
“His every word, movement and gesture are being continuously recorded and shared. Humour is an art. Failed humour could turn into vulgarity,” he said in a Facebook post.
