Perlis state government and Islamic Council must not encourage
non-compliance of laws and dishonesty in marriages
Media Statement
by Chong Eng
(Penang, Tuesday):
DAP Women calls on the Perlis state government and Islamic Council to be
fair to all parties, particularly the rights of the first wife in the issue
of polygamy.
We are of opinion that muslim men who intent to practice polygamy must meet
all requirements including obtaining permission from their first wife or
current wives.
Muslim men who chose to have their second, third or fourth marriages
registered outside Malaysia with the whole purpose of evading permission or
hiding from their first or current wives clearly showed that they have no
respect for existing laws as well as their marriage contracts with their
first wife or current wives.
The action of the Perlis state government and the Islamic Council in
abolishing the requirement to obtain the permission of first wife for muslim
men to practice polygamy is tantamount to encouraging non-compliance of laws
and breach of marriages contracts as well as dishonesty.
We are of the view that muslim men who intent to practise polygamy must have
the courage and capability to persuade their first wives or current wives to
give her or their consents. If they were incapable of doing so, they would
not be able to ensure harmony in the family in future. They are therefore
not advisable to practise polygamy
To allow this type of muslim men to practise polygamy by abolishing the
requirement to obtain first wife¡¯s permission would mean creating family
problems. The recent happening in the family of former deputy prime
minister Tun Ghafar Baba illustrated that polygamy, even with the consent of
the first wife, can create many problems.
Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Abdul Hamid Zainal Abiddin
had has in last December advised that monogamy is the best system for
muslims. He said that polygamy could destroy many families. His advice
should be applied to all states including Trenggaun and Perlis.
(8/1/2003)
* Chong Eng,
DAP Women Chairperson and Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam
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