Women reps, activists slam PAS leader's 'sexist' cattle analogy
Shakira Buang
Published: Aug 6, 2025 1:09 PM
Updated: 5:35 PM
Summary
Published: Aug 6, 2025 1:09 PM
Updated: 5:35 PM
Summary
- A PAS Youth leader continues to spark condemnation after comparing women in leadership to cows, arguing that society should avoid placing women in such positions.
- Women politicians and activists from across party lines and women's rights organisations unite in condemning the remarks as misogynistic, intellectually shallow, and damaging to Islam's reputation.
Several women leaders and activists have slammed Maran PAS Youth information chief Salman Al Farisi, who recently compared women holding leadership positions to female cows in a livestock herd.
They lambasted Salman's statement as sexist, insulting to women, and reflective of backwards thinking that does not represent true Islamic teachings.
PKR Women deputy chief Loh Ker Chean branded him as having a "gutter mouth".👍😂
"I am deeply upset by such sexist, misogynistic statements that spewed forth from the gutter mouth of PAS Youth.
"It will not only frighten non-Muslim women, but it is also a blatant attempt to marginalise women's roles from mainstream leadership positions," Loh (above, left) told Malaysiakini.
Salman had posted a statement on social media recently emphasising the importance of male leadership in society, whilst providing an analogy based on his over-a-year experience in cattle farming.
They lambasted Salman's statement as sexist, insulting to women, and reflective of backwards thinking that does not represent true Islamic teachings.
PKR Women deputy chief Loh Ker Chean branded him as having a "gutter mouth".👍😂
"I am deeply upset by such sexist, misogynistic statements that spewed forth from the gutter mouth of PAS Youth.
"It will not only frighten non-Muslim women, but it is also a blatant attempt to marginalise women's roles from mainstream leadership positions," Loh (above, left) told Malaysiakini.
Salman had posted a statement on social media recently emphasising the importance of male leadership in society, whilst providing an analogy based on his over-a-year experience in cattle farming.
Maran PAS Youth info chief Salman Al Farisi
According to him, based on his observations in managing livestock, female cattle often lead the herd - including determining grazing locations, rest times, and when to return home- whilst male cattle function primarily to protect the herd's safety.
‘Men should lead’
He argued that society should therefore avoid emulating cattle by elevating females to leadership positions, asserting that men ought to assume leadership roles in accordance with Quranic teachings.
"When a female cow is made the leader, she determines everything, whilst the males surrounding this female cow only know how to graze on the results.
“At worst, these male cattle are only called upon to gore enemies. How pitiful it would be if our lives were likened to the lives of cattle," he added.
Commenting further, Loh urged the PAS women's wing to condemn the statement, which she described as a relic of stone-age thinking.
Calls for apology over ‘excessive insult’
Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman described Salman’s views as inappropriate, especially coming from a young political leader, and from a party that bears Islam's name.
"Islam elevates women's status. Comparing women leaders to female cows is not only an insult to women, but also tarnishes Islam's image," said the DAP leader.
Syefura also demanded that Salman apologise and correct his statement.
Johor Wanita Umno information chief Haslinda Salleh also took Salman to task, calling his observation an excessive insult and reflective of moral failure in contemporary politics.
"This isn't merely political satire, this is an open insult towards women," she said.
According to the Tenang assemblyperson, female representatives from any party are leaders chosen by the people and deserve respect, not to be made into analogies that demean their dignity.
Speak up against the wrong
More disappointing, she said, is when the statement was not only left unchallenged, but was defended by senior PAS leader Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who claimed the analogy was not an insult.
‘Men should lead’
He argued that society should therefore avoid emulating cattle by elevating females to leadership positions, asserting that men ought to assume leadership roles in accordance with Quranic teachings.
"When a female cow is made the leader, she determines everything, whilst the males surrounding this female cow only know how to graze on the results.
“At worst, these male cattle are only called upon to gore enemies. How pitiful it would be if our lives were likened to the lives of cattle," he added.
Commenting further, Loh urged the PAS women's wing to condemn the statement, which she described as a relic of stone-age thinking.
Calls for apology over ‘excessive insult’
Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman described Salman’s views as inappropriate, especially coming from a young political leader, and from a party that bears Islam's name.
"Islam elevates women's status. Comparing women leaders to female cows is not only an insult to women, but also tarnishes Islam's image," said the DAP leader.
Syefura also demanded that Salman apologise and correct his statement.
Johor Wanita Umno information chief Haslinda Salleh also took Salman to task, calling his observation an excessive insult and reflective of moral failure in contemporary politics.
"This isn't merely political satire, this is an open insult towards women," she said.
According to the Tenang assemblyperson, female representatives from any party are leaders chosen by the people and deserve respect, not to be made into analogies that demean their dignity.
Speak up against the wrong
More disappointing, she said, is when the statement was not only left unchallenged, but was defended by senior PAS leader Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who claimed the analogy was not an insult.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man
"Is a party that bears Islam's name comfortable with a culture of mocking women in political speeches?" Haslinda questioned.
She also reminded that Islam and the Malay culture promote proper conduct in speech, and honour women rather than making them the subject of poor jokes.
Echoing Loh, she also called upon PAS' top leadership not to remain silent, as failure to act would only signal that a culture of insulting women is permitted or, worse still, endorsed.
"Women are not animals. Women are not weak. And women are not material for political insults," she stressed.
Misuse of Quranic verses
Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh reminded Salman against misusing the Surah An-Nisa verse 34 to justify insults towards women.
"Is a party that bears Islam's name comfortable with a culture of mocking women in political speeches?" Haslinda questioned.
She also reminded that Islam and the Malay culture promote proper conduct in speech, and honour women rather than making them the subject of poor jokes.
Echoing Loh, she also called upon PAS' top leadership not to remain silent, as failure to act would only signal that a culture of insulting women is permitted or, worse still, endorsed.
"Women are not animals. Women are not weak. And women are not material for political insults," she stressed.
Misuse of Quranic verses
Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh reminded Salman against misusing the Surah An-Nisa verse 34 to justify insults towards women.
PKR sec-gen Fuziah Salleh
The Kuantan MP said the verse emphasises men's role as protectors of women, not a licence to demean or make women the subject of jokes.
"Islam doesn't teach us to insult women. If that verse is properly understood, it demands responsibility, not dominance," she added.
Such ‘shallow intellect’
Association of Women for Action and Research (Awam) president Maria Chin Abdullah described Salman's statement as one that is also insulting to his own mother.
"Such statements are extremely demeaning and reflect shallow intellectual levels and stagnant thinking," she said.
The Kuantan MP said the verse emphasises men's role as protectors of women, not a licence to demean or make women the subject of jokes.
"Islam doesn't teach us to insult women. If that verse is properly understood, it demands responsibility, not dominance," she added.
Such ‘shallow intellect’
Association of Women for Action and Research (Awam) president Maria Chin Abdullah described Salman's statement as one that is also insulting to his own mother.
"Such statements are extremely demeaning and reflect shallow intellectual levels and stagnant thinking," she said.
Awam president Maria Chin Abdullah
Maria also emphasised that women now excel in various fields, including education and innovation, and their involvement in leadership should be encouraged, not viewed as competition.
"If there were no women in Parliament, important laws such as the Sexual Harassment Act, Domestic Violence Act, and rape laws might not exist as national legislation," she pointed out.
Maria also questioned whether PAS is moving with the times or returning to a conservative era that oppresses women.
Against true Islamic teachings
SIS Forum executive director Rozana Isa also shared the Muslim women leaders' sentiments, calling Salman's statement contrary to true Islamic teachings.
Rozana said such statements reflect narrow and backwards thinking about leadership, and a failure to understand the leadership values outlined in Islam.
"Women in leadership positions are not to be insulted or mocked. They are there because they possess qualifications, abilities, and high commitment to serve society," she added.
Rozana was also dismayed and condemned the use of crude comparisons towards women as a form of inappropriate insult.
She stressed that Islam greatly upholds the dignity and honour of every human being regardless of gender.
Maria also emphasised that women now excel in various fields, including education and innovation, and their involvement in leadership should be encouraged, not viewed as competition.
"If there were no women in Parliament, important laws such as the Sexual Harassment Act, Domestic Violence Act, and rape laws might not exist as national legislation," she pointed out.
Maria also questioned whether PAS is moving with the times or returning to a conservative era that oppresses women.
Against true Islamic teachings
SIS Forum executive director Rozana Isa also shared the Muslim women leaders' sentiments, calling Salman's statement contrary to true Islamic teachings.
Rozana said such statements reflect narrow and backwards thinking about leadership, and a failure to understand the leadership values outlined in Islam.
"Women in leadership positions are not to be insulted or mocked. They are there because they possess qualifications, abilities, and high commitment to serve society," she added.
Rozana was also dismayed and condemned the use of crude comparisons towards women as a form of inappropriate insult.
She stressed that Islam greatly upholds the dignity and honour of every human being regardless of gender.
SIS Forum executive director Rozana Isa
She further added that the Quran never prohibits women from leading; instead, it acknowledges the shared responsibility of men and women in maintaining goodness.
Rozana also referred to Surah al-Baqarah verse 30 as evidence that leadership responsibility is given to all humanity, both men and women.
She further said that Surah al-Ahzab verse 35 clearly shows spiritual and moral equality between men and women in Islam.
Rozana stressed that the verse is a direct rejection of any argument that attempts to diminish women's roles in public or spiritual life.
She also called for an immediate stop to rhetoric that mocked women, lamenting that it not only fails to reflect Islamic teachings, but stems from cultural attitudes that refuse to accept the progress and justice demanded by religion.
She further added that the Quran never prohibits women from leading; instead, it acknowledges the shared responsibility of men and women in maintaining goodness.
Rozana also referred to Surah al-Baqarah verse 30 as evidence that leadership responsibility is given to all humanity, both men and women.
She further said that Surah al-Ahzab verse 35 clearly shows spiritual and moral equality between men and women in Islam.
Rozana stressed that the verse is a direct rejection of any argument that attempts to diminish women's roles in public or spiritual life.
She also called for an immediate stop to rhetoric that mocked women, lamenting that it not only fails to reflect Islamic teachings, but stems from cultural attitudes that refuse to accept the progress and justice demanded by religion.
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Firstly, to equate human society to a cattle herd, I presume he sees himself as a bull. But before he does that, he should ask himself whether he has the 'attributes' of a bull, to wit, pair of big balls and a big 'johnny' 👍😂. But in reality the wannabe-Taliban-clown has in all likelihood only the wee weeny willie of a weasel.
Bloke's gf or if he is married, then wife, should cane his wee weeny willie of a weasel. a.k.a 'kukuciao-knia', kaukau 😂😂😂
PAS represents the views of the majority in Malaysia. Go figure.
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