KANGAR: Perlis plans to go ahead with its tradition-breaking decision to appoint women as penghulu kawasan (area heads) despite objections from the state branch of the Peninsular Malaysia Village Headmen’s Union.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said there was no statute, which barred the state government from appointing women as village chiefs so “the state intends to proceed with the appointments soon.”
“In ancient times, it might be taboo but we are living in a modern era and women have proven to be equally capable.
“History has indicated that there were also Malay women warriors,” he said, after chairing the weekly state exco meeting here.
Shahidan also said the government had directed the Syariah Court to clear the backlog of cases, where men were refusing to divorce their wives.
