Former Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto has criticised existing parliamentary oversight mechanisms, saying slow procedures and weak reprimands have failed to deter lawmakers from making abusive or inappropriate remarks.
She said the Rights and Privileges Committee, which handles complaints involving MPs, does not meet frequently enough to ensure meaningful accountability.
“Sending an MP to the Rights and Privileges Committee is a very light tap on the wrist because the committee doesn’t sit very often,” she said at a forum titled “Women’s Rights, Roles of MPs, and Government Obligations” today.
Kasthuri said MPs accused of misconduct could sometimes escape serious consequences by simply retracting their remarks, only to repeat similar behaviour later.
“If the Speaker doesn’t call for a meeting or the MPs are unable to attend, the perpetrator is let off the hook. Or you see the next day that the perpetrator has said, ‘I’m sorry and I retract my comment’, only to do it again,” she said.
She also highlighted what she described as systemic gender bias and microaggressions faced by female and younger MPs, including from parliamentary staff and male lawmakers who may assume that elected representatives should be older men.
Kasthuri recalled instances in Parliament where she was mistaken for an administrative staff member or subjected to personal remarks.
She said she did not take offence at comments about her height, including being called “pendek”, or short, but questioned whether such remarks were appropriate in a parliamentary setting.
“I’m not that tall,” she said, while stressing that ridiculing an MP’s appearance could diminish the role of someone elected to represent constituents.
“We (the MPs) are among the 222 people bestowed with the right to speak for the 34 million Malaysians, and you look at me like I’m short?” she said.
