WOMEN, Family and Community Development minister Rina Harun has defended herself over criticisms of a video with actor Rosham Nor which was branded as degrading to women.

In the 40 second video featuring Rina and Rosham, the actor could be heard lamenting that women are “always late”. It was part of a promotional video for a program organised by the ministry.

Rina told those who criticised her to look at the content of the programme instead.

“At this juncture, let’s not politicise everything. Look at the contents of the programme. What’s important is that many (women) need to be defended and helped,” she told reporters.

She also urged Segambut lawmaker Hannah Yeoh who called for her resignation to join hands with her to help women.

“If Yeoh or anyone else wants to assist us in helping women who are in need, we welcome them to do so. Don’t just talk, do.”

The video has been deemed insulting and degrading to women, with some commenting that it has undone years of work in combatting violence against women.

“The efforts taken by the ministry in combatting violence against women is all for nothing. Bagai mencurah air ke daun keladi (like talking to a wall),” Pengerang lawmaker, Azalina Othman Said said on Twitter.

Azalina, who is also a former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, said it would be better for Rina to remove the word “women” from the ministry’s name.

 “I think it is better that the ministry’s name be rebranded to just ‘Family Development Ministry’, and removing the word ‘Women’. That would make things easier,” Azalina said.

The video in question was posted on Rina’s Tik Tok yesterday and has been viewed more than 210,000 times.

The video was meant to promote the ministry’s entrepreneurial programme for women which took place at the  World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) this morning.

In the video, Rosyam could be heard saying women are always late, and in urging them to attend today’s event, said in jest that he would “smack their heads”. 

“Everything is late when it comes to women. Wake up, wake up from your sleep!” he said in the video, mimicking the mannerisms of his character in his local thug movie KL Gangster 2.

Segambut MP, Hannah Yeoh also took to social media to criticise Rina over the distasteful video.

“This is not the first time Rina has used cheap publicity to bring down the image of the ministry,” Yeoh said.

“How can a minister allow such a script and video that degrades and makes fun of women?”

“Rina should not be paid thousands monthly just for her to run programmes. The rakyat doesn’t pay her salary for her to be an event organiser.”

She added that Rina should be fired for the latest debacle.

“If Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is serious about the fight for Keluarga Malaysia, drop ministers that make fun of the role of women.”

“The person who needs to ‘wake up’ is Rina and her deputy.” – September 14, 2022.