Parti Islam SeMalaysia's (PAS) partner in the Barisan Alternatif has demanded Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat to withdraw his statement blaming women as the main cause of social problems.

DAP Wanita vice-chair Betty Chew said that if Nik Aziz had made such derogatory remarks, he should withdraw them and reaffirm that women are victims and not to be blamed in sexual crimes.

"Such remarks indicate his anti-women bias and will anger women who see this as an attempt to justify the criminal and unlawful actions of men against women," she added.

Chew, who is also state assembly representative for Durian Daun, Melaka, was responding to Nik Aziz's statement made during one of his weekly religious meetings in Kota Bharu, that young women who exposed their bodies were most responsible for vice and other ills, including rape.

She reiterated that women in sexual crimes were the victims and to pin the blame on them is a travesty of justice, adding: "Lest we forget, our mothers who gave birth to men, are also women."

Nik Aziz, who is also PAS spiritual adviser, has a record of making derogatory remarks against women. He has discouraged women from working and has directed Kelantan supermarkets to introduce male and female checkouts.

He has also been reported to have said that women should not dress like female pop stars, for example, "wearing blouses that expose the navel" and subsequently admitted that "even a Tok Guru (reverent teacher) can be weakened watching them".

Chew said that Nik Aziz's remarks were unfortunate as he is a morally upright leader not tainted with a single hint of financial or sexual scandal.

Malaysians are aware that Nik Aziz is not involved in any scandal with underaged girls, has not committed adultery and has no children born out of wedlock, she said, adding that however, "such goodwill will be undermined with such unacceptable remarks against women".

Meanwhile, Keadilan Wanita chief Fuziah Salleh said that she knew Nik Aziz personally as someone who has a high regard for women, and hoped that he had been misquoted.

However, she called for Nik Aziz to clarify the context in which he had made his remark, adding that in Islam, women and men are treated equally and should be held equally responsible for any social problems.

Part Rakyat Malaysia president Dr Syed Husin Ali said that if Nik Aiz had really stated what has been reported, he should rethink and revise his views.

He said that Nik Aziz should also refrain from repeating such statements in future as those statements raise great concern among women and also adversely affect the support they are willing to give to the opposition.

"Nik Aziz should not play into the hands of the BN leaders and government-controlled media, as they are always on the lookout to discredit PAS as well as the BA coalition," he said.

"But it must be stressed that whether the media report is correct or not ... the fact remains that it is wrong to assert that women and their provocative outfits are the cause of social problems," he added.

Outrage

Nik Aziz's remarks have also drawn outrage from government women leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Sharizat Abdul Jalil slammed Nik Aziz for looking at women as cattle. She said that men should not excuse their weaknesses by blaming women.

Deputy Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen said that if Nik Aziz was unable to practise self-restraint, there must be something wrong with his training.

Expressing her disappointment, she said that having leaders like Nik Aziz who were "stuck in their old ways" was "heartbreaking".

Sisters in Islam (SIS), a Muslim women's NGO that tackles Islamic related issues that hinder women's advancement in Malaysia, reiterated that the solution to society's ills does not lie in the shrouding, segregation and control of women.

"The Quran urged men to 'lower their gaze and guard their modesty, instead of staring brazenly at the sight of a woman's belly button," said SIS executive director Zainah Anwar.