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Non-Muslims Battles For Polygamy Rights In Malaysia
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Malaysia - a nation with 60 % of population practicing Islam |
By IOL Correspondent in South Asia Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, Jan. 5 (IslamOnline) - A controversial proposal to legalize polygamy among non-Muslims by a non-Muslim Member of Parliament (MP) in Malaysia has received unexpected support from the women’s wing of a political party.
Penang (Island of Penang) People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Women’s chief Elizabeth Stanislaus said Thursday January 3, she would allow her husband to take a second wife “as polygamy is a fact of life which people have to accept”.
Malaysia is largely Muslim nation with 60 percent of the population practicing Islam according to a latest population census. Non-Muslims are not allowed to practice polygamy as it is considered a violation of the country’s laws.
Muslims, under the Sharia’a laws in Malaysia, are allowed to have more than one wife even though the country supports the strict interpretation that a man can have only 4 wives.
The Daily Star newspaper reported that Stanislaus, 29, said while her husband assured her that he would be monogamous, she could not stop him if he wanted to practice polygamy as the decision was out of her hands.
“I’m sure many women will agree with me that there is no problem in polygamy itself, which in my opinion is not sinful and very common in the country.
“The problem, however, lies with the children of the second wife or mistress, who will be labeled as illegitimate,” she said in an interview.
Malaysia does not have provisions in its laws allowing non-Muslims to practice polygamy, though it is common among Hindu’s and some Christians as well as Chinese of Buddhist faith.
In a separate issue, the National Registration Department (NRD) of Malaysia said it accepts applications to register births from all, including for children born out of wedlock.
Its director-general Datuk Azizan Ayob said on Thursday the department had no authority not to issue birth certificates to children born in the country, even those of non citizens.
However this does not mean those among the non-Muslims who will practice polygamy would settle for this situation, IslamOnline was told.
PPP Youth Chief T. Murugiah created havoc when he suggested that non-Muslim men be allowed to practice polygamy. He also alleged that the NRD rejects applications to register births of illegitimate children.
"There is no truth to claim that the department rejects applications to register births of illegitimate children. My directive to my officers is that the department cannot reject applications," Ayob said in response.
Speaking at a news conference at his office, Azizan said that even in extreme cases where both parents were not known such as when a child was found by the roadside, in a mosque and so on, the department still had to register his birth.
However, he said the particulars of the parents in the child's birth certificate would be recorded as “not available” and this was usually done by the Welfare Services Department and the police.
T. Murugiah, a political youth chief proposed polygamy for non-Muslims saying his objective was to highlight the issue of illegitimate babies and unmarried mothers.
Attacked by a women group, T. Murugiah said he had been misunderstood.
He added the women's group had misconstrued the suggestion as encouraging men to get married more than once instead of viewing it as an effort by PPP Youth 'to protect the rights of women who are second wives'.
Murugiah reportedly as said that non-Muslims should be allowed to have at least two wives so that more single women could get married and reduce the problem of men having mistresses.
His proposal sparked a hue and cry from women-based non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), dismissing it as ignorant and insensitive.
Stanislaus said people, especially those who lashed out at her for supporting polygamy among non-Muslim men, should “stop hiding in a dream world and wake up to reality”.
Several women leaders had on Thursday hit out at Stanislaus for endorsing the polygamy suggestion by PPP Youth chief T. Murugiah.
“My endorsement is not against women but simply fighting for the rights of mistresses and trying to make life easier for them. Some became mistresses through no fault of their own when the men lied to them about their (men) marital status.
“I know very well that I would get into trouble with my stand but I am merely practicing my right to express my views and speak freely in a democratic country,” Stanislaus said.
Though the issue of 'Polygamy' is legal under Islamic Shariaa (rulings), it is currently one of the most controversial topics in the streets of many Islamic cities.
Recently, an Egyptian soap-opera aired in most Arab sattellite channels during the holy month of Ramadan was severly criticized by those who viewed the show as being an advocate of polygymy.
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