KUALA LUMPUR – Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said has issued a stern reminder to certain PAS leaders to refrain from making comparisons between female leaders and animals.
She suggested that the actions of these leaders might have violated various provisions of the law, particularly when they referenced the Quran to justify the controversial analogy.
In a post on X, Azalina pointed out that PAS leaders could have breached Sections 509, 504, and 298A of the Penal Code. These sections deal with offences such as insulting a person’s dignity, making statements intended to incite public disorder, and actions that disrupt public harmony.
Although Azalina did not name the leaders involved, she shared screenshots of two news reports quoting PAS Youth Information Chief Maran Salman Al Farisi and PAS Deputy President Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
“To those concerned: If you are still comparing female leaders to animals in 2025, congratulations!
“Be careful, or you might end up with a lawsuit,” she remarked, implying her criticism of the PAS leaders.
Azalina further emphasised that anyone who invokes religion in their arguments could also face legal consequences under Section 507B of the Penal Code, which pertains to contemptuous remarks.
Recently, Malaysiakini reported that Salman compared men to bulls and women to cows in a bid to highlight the importance of male leadership, drawing from his experience in cattle farming.
Salman argued that, typically, a female cow “determines everything,” while the male cow’s role is to protect the herd.
“That’s why, if possible, we shouldn’t allow cows to choose a female leader. Men should lead, as reflected in the Quran, Surah an-Nisa, verse 34,” he said in a Facebook post.
Yesterday, Tuan Ibrahim defended Salman, asserting that he did not see how the remarks could be considered sexist. He added that such analogies have long been used in literature, including Islamic works, without intending to degrade women’s dignity.
“In the history of Islamic literature, works like Kalilah wa Dimnah are full of animal fables used to convey moral lessons and teachings,” he said. – August 7, 2025