DATUK Seri Rafizi Ramli revealed that he received an unusual request recently asking him to lobby Parliament to follow the example of British courts and define calling a man 'bald' as sexual harassment.
"As Members of Parliament, we must not think of issues that benefit us only," wrote the former minister.
The Pandan MP's post triggered a heated discussion on social media with some saying they were okay with being called 'botak' by their friends.
"Many smart men were balding or bald like Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Shakespeare and others," said another netizen.
Another pointed out that even Russian President Vladimir Putin was also bald.
Some netizens agreed that calling a man 'bald' was a form of harassment with one claiming that he was body shamed by his friends who called his head an 'island'.
Others said they had no issue and pointed out that even famous actors like Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham and Steve Austin @ Rattlesnake were also bald.
A UK employment tribunal ruled in 2022 that calling a man "bald" could constitute sexual harassment because it is linked to the protected characteristic of sex, as baldness is more common in men.
The case involved Tony Finn, an electrician who was insulted by his supervisor with the remark 'bald c***' during an argument.
The tribunal found the comment related to Finn's sex, created an intimidating environment, and violated his dignity. - September 25, 2025
