Kedah's new rule on polygamy worries Harapan women's wings

The women's wing of Pakatan Harapan is worried that Kedah's newly-proposed decision to allow Muslim men to remarry, without consent from their first wives, will be abused.

"If all it needs (to make multiple marriages legal) is to pay a fine of RM400, what is there to stop them (Muslim men) from going to Thailand and getting married to someone else?" Amanah Wanita chief Siti Mariah Mahmud told a press conference today.

The decision was recently announced by Kedah Religious Committee chairperson Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid, as reported by Sin Chew Daily.

Mohd Rawi was quoted as saying that Kedah would work on reducing the current fine of RM3,000 imposed on Muslim men who remarry outside the country and fail to register in the state to between RM300 and RM400.

The programme will reportedly start next month. 

Siti Mariah was speaking at a press conference jointly organised by representatives of the women's wings of Harapan component parties Amanah, DAP and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu). 

'Don't forget the terms and conditions'

PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin urged all Muslim men who seek polygamous relationships to not forget the "terms and conditions" that come with the decision to remarry. 

"Although we generally do not reject the Islamic rules that allow polygamy, this issue has several factors that need to be considered."

According to Zuraidah, the syariah court has to be informed by a man who seeks second or third marriages.

"They have to meet to make sure the man has done his duties fairly and perfectly as a husband and father to his first family. The syariah court must also determine if he is financially capable.

"Although getting permission from the first wife to remarry is not needed, the first wife's agreement to the second marriage is a necessary component for maintaining the structure of the family.

"To ensure fairness for the first wife and her children, the husband seeking further marriages must be able to financially support his new wife. He must also ensure the rights and needs of his children born by his first wife are not neglected," she said.

Zuraidah also rubbished claims by those who say it is a right for Muslim men to have multiple marriages.

"It's not a right. To me, it's a conditional proposal that must be approved by the relevant authorities and the parties involved." - Mkini