Period poverty is a real issue plaguing Malaysian women on a daily basis!
On 8 March, the whole world celebrated Women’s Day and everyone shared their appreciation towards the womenfolk in their life. This included major organisations and brands with some even having special discounts for their female customers.
To commemorate this special day, political organisation, Wanita Keadilan Johor, organised a program of distributing food and sanitary pads for the women living in the outskirts area including Tebrau and Putri Wangsa.
The effort received praise from Facebook users everywhere but one political troll page, Pejabat Timbalan Kanan Setia, that claims to be the “official Datuk Azmin Ali supporters page and team #AzminAliForPrimeMinister.”
In their post, they questioned Wanita Keadilan Johor’s decision to distribute pads and even asked if they have no shame to give out pads openly.
Apa punya #Stim Wanita Keadilan Johor ni? sambut hari wanita bagi #Modes tepi jalan ke? Mana maruah kau? Mana melayu…
Posted by Pejabat Timbalan Kanan Setia on Tuesday, March 9, 2021
“Where’s your shame? Where are your Malay values? The thing that goes on your vagina, you’re just giving by the side of the road?
Even if you go to DAP stores, the store owner will usually give you the pads in a black plastic bag to preserve the honour of whoever bought it but you people are like aunties!”
Unsurprisingly, the post received backlash from Facebook users who called out the page admin for their sexist and outdated mindset. One of them also brought up the issue of period poverty where women lack access to sanitary pads and through programmes like the ones that Wanita Keadilan Johor are organising, these women will be taught how to use and dispose of their pads. The post even casually mentioned the women as DAP members despite them being PKR members.
Over on Twitter, DAP politicians including Rozy Razit expressed their disappointment that these types of comments are still being made in 2021. Twitter users also expressed their opinion that posts like these are a clear example of how the seemingly taboo topic of menstruation should be normalised.
“500 million women are recorded to suffer from period poverty across the globe each month. 500 Million. Across the globe. Each. Month. Periods are natural it is literally a system in a woman’s body where it cleans itself. Stop shaming women for things that are natural!”
The page admin is yet to take down the offensive post and has even taken to insulting their “haters”. Let us know what you think about this issue!
Also read: Dr. Amalina Bakri Debunks Medical Myths That Makcik-Makcik Bawangs Like to Share
