A Malaysian female minister has sparked outrage after she advised husbands to beat their 'stubborn' wives 'gently' to discipline them for 'unruly' behavior,
Daily Mail reports.
Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, the deputy minister for women, family and community development, was accused of 'normalizing' domestic violence by urging men to strike their wives to show how strict he is and 'how much he wants her to change'.
In a two-minute video posted on Instagram called 'Mother's Tips', the deputy minister firstly advised husbands to 'discipline' their 'stubborn' wives by speaking to them. But if they did not change their behavior, then they should sleep apart from them for three days.
'However, if the wife still refuses to take the advice, or change her behavior after the sleeping separation, then the husbands can try the physical touch approach, by striking her gently, to show his strictness and how much he wants her to change,' Siti Zailah said in the video.
The deputy minister, who is an MP for the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, also urged women to only speak to their husbands if they have permission in order to win over their partners.
'Speak to your husbands when they are calm, finished eating, have prayed and are relaxed,' Siti Zailah said. 'When we want to speak, ask for permission first.'
A coalition of women's rights groups, the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality, accused Siti Zailah of 'normalizing' domestic violence and demanded she resign from her position as deputy women's minister.
'The deputy minister must step down for normalizing domestic violence, which is a crime in Malaysia, as well as for perpetuating ideas and behaviors that are opposed to gender equality,' a joint statement read.