(AFP) The virility of the men in Perlis was defended today by their top government official, who said the high rate of polygamy there discredited reports of widespread impotence.

Chief minister Shahidan Kassim called the local Bernama news agency to say reports that the state had the highest number of erectile dysfunction (ED) cases was "confusing".

He pointed out that the state's rate of polygamy, where men have more than one wife, was one of the highest in the country.

"In my opinion, polygamous men most certainly cannot be suffering from erectile dysfunction," he told the agency.

A recent study by the Urology Institute here revealed that 70 percent of 743 middle-aged men in the state suffered from symptoms of ED.

Shahidan, who said the findings were "shocking", urged the health ministry to conduct a more comprehensive study on the alleged problem.

"If it is true, it could lead to many problems including the breakdown of the family unit," he said.

"However, the high rate of polygamy still proves that most of the men here do not suffer from problems of impotency."