IPOH: Perak’s Women, Family, Social Welfare, Cooperatives, and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman, Datuk Salbiah Mohamed, has expressed surprise over recent population figures showing that Muallim district has the highest proportion of women in the state.
Salbiah revealed that she first noticed the trend while reviewing local voter registration figures.
“I recently received the data, and it was quite a surprise to learn that Muallim has the highest proportion of women in Perak—and is among the highest nationwide,” she told reporters after attending the state-level Disabled Persons Awareness Month event on Thursday (Oct 8).
“I became alert to this when analysing voter numbers and noticed a distinct female majority.”
According to the Statistics Department's Current Population Estimates by Administrative District 2026, 14 administrative districts across the country recorded a higher female-to-male ratio. Muallim, Perak, posted the widest gap nationwide, with only 92 men for every 100 women.
Other districts with more women than men include Bachok, Kelantan, and Samarahan, Sarawak (both at 94 men per 100 women), as well as Song, Sarawak (95 per 100).
Addressing the demographic shift, Salbiah emphasised that the state government is already proactively engaging female residents in the area to ensure their voices are heard in policymaking.
She highlighted the recent “Open Mic with Kak Sal” program in Muallim, which gave local women a platform to voice feedback on key issues, including women-responsive budgeting.
“I did not expect Muallim to have such a high female population,” Salbiah added. “However, given these findings, we have already taken action by creating spaces for them to share their perspectives.”
Also present at the event was Datin Seri Aezer Zubin, wife of the Perak Mentri Besar.
