Zahid's body-shaming comments spark sexism accusations

Umno president Zahid Hamidi has drawn criticism for making remarks about the physical appearance of female political figures, with former actress and activist Kasthuri condemning the comments as sexist. The remarks, which included references to body shape, have drawn scrutiny from observers who say they are inappropriate for a political leader of his standing. In addition to comments about Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Noraini Mohamed, Zahid had also made observations about Malacca Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali's appearance, describing it as "bulat" or round. The series of comments has reignited debate about the standards of conduct expected from senior political figures and the treatment of women in Malaysian politics. Kasthuri's public criticism underscores growing concerns among civil society about body-shaming and gendered remarks in political discourse, with observers calling for greater accountability from party leaders regarding their public statements.