GEORGE TOWN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's impromptu response to a Form Six student has been completely misconstrued by his detractors, a senior DAP lawmaker said.
According to Dr P. Ramasamy, a female student in a town hall session in Negri Sembilan on Saturday had asked Anwar about the future of the country and what his response was to the sliding ringgit.
He said Anwar had not only praised her for the eloquent and articulate manner in which she posed her question, but also said that he would have asked ask for her phone number if he had been younger.
"But since it was Anwar, the prime minister who said it, he was criticised for being sexist and distasteful for his response.
"His detractors said that Anwar's conduct should have been beyond reproach. They said that Anwar, by saying that he would have asked for her phone number if he had been younger, could have lowered his moral standing in the eyes of the public.
"One veteran journalist went to the extent of saying that it was alright for Anwar to joke, but not something that can be considered distasteful or discriminatory. A joke is alright but not something that brings disrepute.
"I think Anwar's detractors are simply using the otherwise innocent remark as a political weapon to demonise him. Right-thinking Malaysians are fully aware that Anwar did not offend or ridicule the student by engaging in an offensive remark. Far from it."
Ramasamy, a former academician-turned-politician, said Anwar's remark had been taken out of context to give it an offensive and derogatory meaning.
"Whether one likes Anwar or not, there is no reason to decipher the inner meaning of the statement. It was just an off-the-cuff statement, meant more as a joke more than anything else.
"The impromptu remark was intended to enliven the atmosphere in the hall. I don't think it was morally reprehensible or distasteful. Some of Anwar's detractors are just using the opportunity to make a mountain out of a molehill.
"I don't see any sexism in Anwar's response."
He said Anwar has political friends and foes in the country.
"When such a remark is uttered, there are those who want to find fault. Anwar has not committed an unpardonable act. Let us move on."
Bersatu legal and constitution bureau deputy chairman Sasha Lyna Abdul Latiff has urged for Anwar to publicly apologise to the Form Six student.
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