M'sia minister slams own party members for using sanitary pads in protest

An intra-party dispute led to a Malaysian minister slamming "veterans" from her own Democratic Action Party (DAP) for a media event, which saw a group of mostly middle-aged, male politicians wear sanitary pads over their mouths.

“Using sanitary pads as tools of attack or ridicule only reinforces the shame and stigma long associated with menstruation,” DAP politician Teo Nie Ching, who is also the Malaysian Deputy Minister for Communications, told Malysiakini.

The protest

According to various sources, over 50 party veterans and DAP representatives from the state of Negeri Sembilan had gathered for a press conference that day, during which they protested the appointment of Johor native Vincent Wu as senator for the state.

They had deemed him an “outsider” and wore sanitary pad masks, symbolising the state leadership’s “airtight silence” when facing criticism from the grassroots, Malaysiakini reported.

“This mask is thick, dense, highly absorbent, and soundproof – it perfectly symbolises how seamlessly silent they are,” said veteran club chairperson Lee Kong Hing.

The protest, which took place on the morning of Aug. 3, has drawn criticism from other members of the DAP, including its party secretary-general, who described the act as highly inappropriate and insensitive.

Not a tool for personal gain or internal protest

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke highlighted internal channels for members to raise concerns if they are dissatisfied with decisions made by leaders.

“Not all decisions can satisfy everyone," he said as quoted by The Star, clarifying that the protest did not represent the entire party.

He further explained that it was not legally required that the senator position for a state be filled by an individual from said state.

“The usual practice is that component parties in the state government recommend names. Since 2018, PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) and DAP have each been allocated one seat, and the individual can be from anywhere as long as they are a Malaysian citizen.”

In a Facebook post that night, the women’s wing of the DAP urged party members to express their concerns through constructive dialogue, instead of “provocative acts that risk undermining the dignity of women”.

“The menstrual pad is not a tool for personal gain or internal protest,” it said.

“It represents the lived experiences of millions of women, and should not be exploited to make a political point, especially within our own party.”

Top image via Teo Nie Ching (张念群)/Facebook & Unsplash