The following is a report from Malaysia's daily THE STAR pasted for the reader's convenience.
Nation Saturday December 9, 2006
Polygamy awards ‘invite trouble’
KUALA LUMPUR: A woman minister is against a proposal to reward married men for taking single mothers as additional wives.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the move would “invite trouble” even though the intention might be good and noble.
Shahrizat: ‘The menteri besar promised to get more details on the matter’“I was shocked to read in the newspapers that the Terengganu government intends to give awards to such men. I immediately called Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh for an explanation,” she told reporters after presenting the Nur Foundation’s “Open Minds” scholarships worth RM250,000 to 50 special children.
“The menteri besar promised to get more details on the matter for me,” she said.
Yesterday, a state executive councillor reportedly told the Terengganu legislative assembly that the state government would be giving special awards to married man who were willing to take single mothers as their second or third wives to ease their financial burden.
Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee chairman Wan Mohamed Wan Hassan had said the special award was a token of appreciation for these men.
Shahrizat however felt such an award would encourage polygamy in Terengganu.
“I acknowledge that the intention is good. But, the worrying thing is that it can be misinterpreted,” she said, adding that it could be abused by some irresponsible men.
Meanwhile, in Kuala Terengganu, Idris Jusoh denied that the state government was planning to give out such awards.
“The state government has never decided to give awards to men who marry four wives,” he said via SMS to reporters yesterday.
The SMS claimed that newspaper reports on the matter were inaccurate. – BERNAMA
Post your comments here. I don't mean to offend, but if we want to make the world a better place make your presence felt with a comment, no matter how brief. Malaysians especially must stand up and be counted. Whether the statement was made in jest is not the point, the point is "men of note" feel able to offend with impunity. Stop this today.
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2 comments:
How gallant. Shouldn't they consider men to get awards just for marrying a woman next?
Salam askiah,
It never ceased to amaze me. Now they are blaming working women for the behaviour of children. and what next?
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