PETALING JAYA: Kelantan’s new restrictions on the participation of women in muay thai is regressive and discourages women from taking up the sport, especially as coaches, says MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.
She questioned whether such misogynistic prohibitions would be extended to other contact sports as well.
She said the announcement by the Kelantan state exco member Datuk Abdul Fattah Mahmood on the ban on women being involved in muay thai, including mandating that all participants cover up their bodies, was too broad.
“It discriminates against women sports officials, besides discouraging women from taking up the traditional male domain of boxing.
“Women sports officials, who also include civil servants, are now outlawed from going to the stage to present prizes.
“Will the ban against women going onto the stage be extended to theatres, orchestras, choral reading and choirs too?
“This being the case, primary school pupils will also be denied the possibility of performing during their school’s annual concerts,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Chew said the rules would prevent female doctors or nurses from going on the muay thai stage to treat injured fighters.
“For female doctors in particular, this ruling pits them against their Hippocratic Oath which they have sworn upon, to heal the sick and uphold medical ethics,” she added.
Abdul Fattah, who is state Youth and Sports committee chairman, was reported as saying that muay thai championship organisers needed to obey seven state guidelines.
Among others, these guidelines stated that only three people can accompany fighters to the ring, gambling and smoking were banned and fighters must undergo urine tests.
He added that the guidelines would be implemented during the national Muay Thai 2016 championships at the Sultan Muhammad IV stadium on March 22 and 23.
