Law and Institutional Reform Minister Azalina Othman Said stated that certain PAS leaders may have violated multiple laws by likening women leaders to animals and invoking Quranic references to justify such analogies.
In a post on X, Azalina noted that the PAS figures in question may have contravened Sections 509, 504, and 298A of the Penal Code, which pertain respectively to insulting a person’s modesty, intentional insult likely to provoke a breach of peace, and actions that may incite disharmony.
Although she did not name the individuals directly, Azalina attached two media articles that identified Maran PAS Youth information chief Salman Al Farisi and the party’s deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as being involved.
“To whom it may concern: If you are still comparing women leaders to animals in 2025, congratulations! Do better — or lawyer up,” she wrote, in what appeared to be a pointedly sarcastic remark directed at Salman and Tuan Ibrahim, who had defended him.
Azalina further stressed that using religion to substantiate such arguments could potentially constitute an offence under Section 507B of the Penal Code, which addresses insulting words.
According to a report by Malaysiakini on Monday, Salman had drawn comparisons between men and bulls and women and cows, asserting that men are inherently more suited to leadership roles. Drawing on his livestock farming experience, he claimed that within a herd, a cow typically leads while bulls function as protectors, and thus argued that society should refrain from elevating women to leadership positions, citing Quranic teachings as support.
Earlier today, Tuan Ibrahim defended Salman’s statement, contending that such analogies are common in classical literary works and are not intended to demean women.
“In Islamic literature of the past, there are works such as Kalilah wa Dimnah, which are rich with animal analogies and moral tales used to impart teachings and values,” he said, adding that he did not view Salman’s remarks as sexist.
