PETALING JAYA: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has highlighted that Bersatu MP Datuk Mohd Shuhaimi Abdullah’s invitation for her to visit Langkawi without any clothes could be seen as a form of sexual harassment. Kok stated, “Words come from one’s mind. Evil words come from evil minds. The way the Langkawi MP speaks in Parliament reflects what is in his mind. In short, he is a lusty man.”
Kok expressed her dissatisfaction with Mohd Suhaimi’s explanation that he was simply responding provocatively to a question she allegedly asked about whether tourists would be permitted to wear shorts in Langkawi.
Kok argued that her question in Parliament was legitimate, as Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing had emphasized that non-Muslim tourists in Langkawi have complained about not being allowed to wear shorts and consume alcohol on the island.
“Langkawi has consistently blamed Putrajaya for not promoting the island to tourists. I want to find out from him whether Langkawi, which is under the Kedah state government, has implemented ‘dress code policing’ on tourists,” Kok explained. She further stated that her question was valid considering the minister’s previous discussion of tourists’ complaints.
In response to Kok’s question about shorts during a debate on Budget 2024 on October 26, Mohd Suhaimi invited her to visit Langkawi wearing nothing. The Malay daily quoted him on October 28, saying that he was responding to Kok, who he claimed was attempting to trap him with her question.
Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman condemned Mohd Suhaimi’s remark as “lewd and offensive” and referred him to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee. Othman stated that the comment contained alleged elements of sexual harassment against Kok.
