Helping marginalised better than ‘cohabitation’ with the corrupt, Yeoh tells PAS

Alfian Z.M. Tahir Alfian Z.M. Tahir Updated 7 years ago · Published on 10 Mar 2019 4:00PM · 6 Comments

Hannah Yeoh says Sisters in Islam was funded to help the government collect data on abused women. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 10, 2019.

HANNAH Yeoh has hit back at PAS after the Islamist party criticised the federal government for funding women’s rights group Sisters in Islam.

Yeoh, the deputy women, family and community development minister, said defending the rights of the marginalised is far nobler than being on the same platform with criminals.

She said helping abused women should be a priority, regardless of political ideology.

“I never thought that my intention to help Muslim women could become an issue. The funds given to Sisters in Islam was meant to help their work in gathering data and statistics on how to solve social issues in the country.

“Only a responsible government would care so much about collecting data and statistics to solve social issues,” she said in a Facebook post.

Yeoh said SIS has been providing free legal counsel for men and women since 2003 and has helped thousands of married couples.

She said PAS should be more objective in its criticism.

“As a party that claims to fight for women’s rights, PAS should be more objective. Muslim or non-Muslim women who are abused should receive protection from all parties, and it is my responsibility to help as much as I could.

“SIS has formed Telenisa, a free legal aid service for women and men since 2003, and 8,400 married couples have benefited from Telenisa.”

“As a deputy minister in charge of taking care of women, children and family it is my responsibility to defend these people from being abused. 

“Defending the rights of all abused Muslim women is far superior than cohabitation with those who defend corruption,” she said.

Earlier today, Selangor PAS said Putrajaya should not fund SIS as the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) regards it as a deviant group.

Sallehin Mukhyi said a fatwa issued by Mais had cast SIS’ ideology as not part of Islam.

Sallehin also demanded that Yeoh to apologise to the sultan of Selangor and Mais following the issue.

Yesterday, Yeoh said  SIS was the beneficiary of an allocation from the government in support of its activities. 

Yeoh said the funds are from the ministry’s budget. 

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man objected to the allocation, saying the money should go to groups that are “loyal to Islam and the Malays”. 

SIS responded by saying that the group had helped thousands of Muslim women become aware of their rights. – March 10, 2019.

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Comments

  • Money should be put into good use, not for buying luxurious cars and super bikes.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • It is not for PAS to dictate to which NGOs the PH government should provide assistance in carrying out their work. SIS has been doing very good work helping the Malay Muslim women. Why does this irk PAS? Don't ever give face to PAS. They have no moral standing in society after all the lies and cover-ups.

    Posted 7 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply

  • Hahaha the corrupt PAS leaders telling an honest Minister what to do. Again race and religion is used as the basis but not about what benefits the Rakyat.

    Posted 7 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Trustworthy YB Lawan Penipu or unscrupulous PAS. In the name of compassion or human rights, we must tell PAS , to shut up and sleep with husband UMNO. Eat and sleep only

    Posted 7 years ago by Tam Yan Cheng · Reply

  • Shut your fuc.... mouth dumshit pas with your lover dumshit umno dic.. in your mouth.

    Posted 7 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply

  • YB Hannah Yeoh, we support you. Just ignore the liars and munafik. They are just waiting to be cursed by the Almighty.

    Posted 7 years ago by T E · Reply