Cows And Women Remark Is Pas Youth Leader S Personal View Mas Ermieyati

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Perikatan Nasional Women chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin has described the statement by her coalition colleague who compared women in leadership positions to "cows" in a herd as his personal opinion.
She also expressed confidence that Maran PAS Youth information chief Salman Al Farisi’s statement does not represent PAS' official stance.
According to Mas Ermieyati, the statement was isolated and does not reflect the overall attitude of the party leadership, particularly regarding women's involvement in politics.
"I believe that was Salman's personal opinion and it does not represent the stance or views of PAS leadership or PAS itself," she told Malaysiakini when sought for a response on the issue.
ADSSalman had previously posted a statement on social media emphasising the importance of male leadership in society, whilst providing an analogy based on his over-a-year experience in cattle farming.
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.
He argued that society should therefore avoid emulating cattle by elevating women to leadership positions, asserting that men ought to assume leadership roles in accordance with Quranic teachings.
"When a cow is made the leader, she determines everything, whilst the male cattle surrounding this 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.
Following that statement, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Bidadari Malaysia founder, Napsiah Khamis Maharan, condemned Salman and described the statement as sexist and rude.
She also said Salman’s remark signifies a regressive mindset, adding that such thinking would stall societal progress.
‘PAS is more open now’
Expanding on the issue and appearing to downplay the controversy, Mas Ermieyati also emphasised that PAS is now increasingly open to women's participation, including in roles as MPs and senators.
"If we look at PAS today, it's more open. In fact, the number of women PAS MPs is increasing, not to mention senators. This shows the party is not sidelining women's participation," she said.
PAS boasts a mere five women MPs out of the total 43 parliamentary seats won by the party.
These include Tumpat MP Mumtaz Nawi, Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Mohamad, Temerloh MP Salamiah Nor, Kapar MP Halimah Ali, and Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Yusoff.
Commenting further, Mas Ermieyati nonetheless acknowledged that Salman's statement could be considered sexist and inappropriate to be made by any party leader, even at the area level, whilst simultaneously downplaying it as merely being his personal view.
"I don't deny that statement could be seen as sexist. Although it came from an area-level leader, I believe he ought not to have made such a statement," she said. - Mkini

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