The DAP’s stunt came days after a new report detailing how menstrual stigma affects Malaysian girls’ school attendance and mental well-being
The demonstration, staged on Sunday by dozens of members of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in Negeri Sembilan, drew fierce criticism after its members wore sanitary pads over their mouths to mock the appointment of an “outsider” as a state senator – a gesture condemned as “deeply regressive”.
Protesters were opposing the selection of a senator from neighbouring Johor to replace a retiring local representative and claimed the pads – described as “thick, dense, highly absorbent and soundproof” – represented the “airtight silence” of the state party committee towards their concerns.
But the stunt, which even saw some female members take part, provoked swift condemnation from within the party itself. Senior figures warned that it risked reinforcing the shame and stigma that still surround menstruation in Malaysia.
“The menstrual pad is not a tool for personal gain or internal protest,” said the Kuala Lumpur women’s wing of the DAP in a statement. “It represents the lived experiences of millions of women and should not be exploited to make a political point, especially within our own party.”
