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Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Sanitary pads are not props!
In many rural parts of Sarawak and Sabah, access to clean water and hygiene products, including sanitary pads, is still a daily struggle. This is not something to mock, as it is a reality that we must address with dignity. — Photo by Chang Yi THAT was exactly what happened in Negeri Sembilan last week when the DAP Veterans Club staged a press conference wearing sanitary pads as face masks to protest the appointment of Vincent Wu, a Johor resident as senator, instead of a local from Negeri Sembilan itself. It is legitimate to protest an 'outsider' being chosen for a post that could easily be given to someone from Negeri Sembilan. But the moment the protestors turned sanitary pads into tools of ridicule, they crossed a line – one that many women, myself included, find deeply offensive. Sanitary pads are not political props. They are basic necessities for women's health, dignity, and hygiene. They are not symbols of shame, weakness, or ridicule – and using them to 'mock silence' degrades not only the protest, but also the women whose lives revolve around this natural biological need. The protest leader, Lee Kong Hing, said the custom-made sanitary pad masks represented the state committee's 'airtight silence' over the senator's appointment. There are countless more respectful ways to criticise leaders of their 'silence'. It can be a strip of black tape across the mouth, or simply turning one's back. It is definitely a tone-deaf decision to choose sanitary pads, which have been used to shame, marginalise and silence women. The act of this group of DAP veterans play into outdated notions that menstruation is something dirty, something to laugh at. The protest trivialised women's experiences and reinforced the stigma that generations of activists had worked so hard to dismantle. More upsetting still is how disconnected this stunt is from the realities of women in Malaysia, especially in rural Sarawak and Sabah. Do these men know that many women and girls in the interiors of Borneo still struggle to access sanitary pads? Do they know that in some longhouses and rural settlements, girls skip school during their periods because they don't have proper menstrual hygiene supplies? In my own experience visiting rural communities, I've seen girls using cloth or tissue, and women too embarrassed to talk about their needs. In some schools, there are no proper disposal systems for pads – forcing young girls to hide them, or to go without. So when I see sanitary pads turned into protest costumes, it feels not just insensitive, but mocking. It makes light of a hardship many of our fellow Malaysians still quietly endure. Let me put it bluntly: in rural Sarawak and Sabah, sanitary pads are not props – they are privileges. The irony is this: the protest was meant to criticise silence, but now the protest itself has drowned out the issue. Instead of focusing on why the Negeri Sembilan party leadership handed the senate post to someone from Johor, the conversation has shifted to the protestors' lack of judgment. That's a strategic failure. Worse, they have alienated many supporters, especially women, who might otherwise share their concern about the centralisation of political appointments. There are many talented local leaders in Negeri Sembilan who deserve representation, but when you wrap that message in misogyny, it loses credibility. It becomes a joke — and women once again become collateral damage. To the DAP veterans involved: protest if you must. Demand accountability. Uphold your grassroots ideals. But don't sacrifice decency in the process. Women are not symbols. Menstruation is not shameful. Sanitary pads are not costumes. If you truly claim to represent the 'rakyat' (people) — including the women — then you must apologise for this display. Not just to your party, but to the many Malaysian women, rural and urban, who were hurt by your choice of protest. A little humility would go a long way. And to political parties of all stripes: if you want to inspire the next generation, especially women and youths, then start by treating women's bodies and experiences with respect. That includes understanding what sanitary pads mean — not to you, but to the women who need them. Let us also take this moment to talk, seriously, about period poverty. If a few of the Negeri Sembilan veterans had channelled their energy into supplying pads to rural girls, or building menstrual hygiene awareness, the nation would have applauded. Now that would have been a protest worth making. malaysia politics sanitary pads
The Star
04-08-2025
- Politics
- The Star
'Inappropriate and insensitive', Loke slams DAP vet's senator nomination protest
SEREMBAN: The DAP has expressed regret over a protest by around 50 party veterans in Negri Sembilan, who wore custom-made masks made from sanitary pads to protest the proposed nomination of an "outsider" for the senator post. Party secretary-general Anthony Loke described the act as highly inappropriate and insensitive, noting that members can always raise concerns internally if dissatisfied with leadership decisions. "If they are unhappy, there are internal channels for them to air their grievances. In any political party, decisions are made by the leadership after considering all aspects. Not all decisions can satisfy everyone," he stated after handing over the Jalur Gemilang to schools in the Seremban parliamentary constituency for Merdeka Day celebrations. Loke, who is Seremban MP, said it was improper for the protesters to resort to such a gimmick. The protest involved members of the state DAP Veterans Club, who held a media conference on Sunday (Aug 3) to oppose the appointment of a Johorean senator for Negri Sembilan. They wore the masks to symbolise the state leadership's silence and failure to appoint a local individual. Loke clarified that the protest involved only a few members and did not represent the entire party. The senator post allocated for the state will become vacant as current senator A. Kesavadas Nair completes his second and final term at the end of this month. When asked about the nomination of Vincent Wu Him Ven from Johor, Loke said the proposed name would be tabled at the state assembly sitting on Tuesday (Aug 5). "Once decisions are made, we have to proceed with the decision," he stated without elaborating. Loke noted that there are no legal requirements for the senator post for a particular state to be filled by an individual from the same state. "The usual practice is that component parties in the state government recommend names. Since 2018, PKR and DAP have each been allocated one seat, and the individual can be from anywhere as long as they are a Malaysian citizen," he explained. Nominations are automatically rejected if they do not fulfil legal provisions. It was also reported that Wanita DAP chief Teo Nie Ching slammed the veteran's protest as being disrespectful to women. "Using sanitary pads as tools of attack or ridicule only reinforces the shame and stigma long associated with menstruation," said Teo, who is also the Deputy Communications Minister. Period poverty is a reality in Malaysia, said Teo, adding that some students are forced to miss school due to their inability to afford menstrual products. 'And yet, here they are wasting large quantities of sanitary pads just to mock their political rivals," she said.
Malay Mail
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Wasting sanitary pads to mock rivals': Wanita DAP slams veterans' protest as disrespectful to women
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Wanita DAP has reportedly criticised the Negeri Sembilan DAP Veterans Club for using sanitary pads as gimmicks during a protest against the party's leadership, calling the act inappropriate and disrespectful to women. According to Malaysiakini, Wanita DAP chief and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said she did not agree with the move, as the move reinforced harmful stigma surrounding menstruation. 'Using sanitary pads as tools of attack or ridicule only reinforces the shame and stigma long associated with menstruation,' she was quoted as saying. Teo also reportedly pointed to the reality of period poverty in Malaysia, noting that some students are forced to miss school due to their inability to afford menstrual products. 'And yet, here they are wasting large quantities of sanitary pads just to mock their political rivals," she reportedly said. The Negeri Sembilan DAP Veterans Club reportedly staged a protest yesterday over the appointment of Johor native Vincent Wu as senator, criticising the decision as a betrayal of local interests. During the protest, members wore custom-made masks made from sanitary pads to symbolise what they described as the state leadership's silence on the matter. Lee Kong Hing, the club's chariman, reportedly described the masks as being thick, dense, highly absorbent, and and soundproof — qualities he reportedly said 'perfectly symbolise how seamlessly silent the state leadership is'. In a Facebook post last night, the Federal Territories wing of Wanita DAP condemned the act, urging party members to uphold dignity and engage in respectful discourse. 'The menstrual pad is not a tool for personal gain or internal protest,' read the post. 'It represents the lived experiences of millions of women, and should not be exploited to make a political point, especially within our own party,' it added.
