A Malaysian state leader has said the country is not ready for a female prime minister, labelling the idea "unreasonable", a report said today.

The chief minister of eastern Pahang state, Adnan Yaakob, told more than 1,000 women gathered for a seminar that women had to be "realistic" about their rights.

"I fully support the idea that men and women are equal, but those striving towards this must not ask for unreasonable things," Adnan was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times .

Still in minority

Women are still in the minority in the mostly Muslim nation's Parliament and the cabinet, and Adnan said Malaysian society was not ready to have a woman at the helm of the government.

"That is the reality. Women should fight for their rights, but in doing so, they should not, at least for now, ask for things which do not make sense, such as wanting to be prime minister," he said.