Nuridah Mohd Salleh, who heads the women’s wing of the Islamist party, Muslimat PAS, said a man’s right to polygamy was God-given.
When asked how she felt about Perak PAS information chief Wan Tarmizi Abd Aziz’s Facebook post, which said Women’s Day would be more meaningful if women allow their husbands to marry another, Nuridah referred to a Quranic verse frequently quoted by conservative Muslims to justify polygamy.
“A man is allowed to marry more than one woman as stated in Islam. Who are we to question the decision and Islam?” she told FMT.
Nuridah said she did not think it was a problem if a husband wanted to marry another woman.
“The husband should discuss the matter with his first wife beforehand. He must also show that he is capable of providing for the women.
“If he cannot cope even with one wife then it would be a problem,” she added.
Nuridah went on to say that the “next marriage” of a husband should also ensure the happiness of his new wife and their children.
Nuridah has in the past defended her party’s so-called “oath of allegiance”, which requires a PAS candidate to sign a pledge that he will divorce his wife if he leaves the party after winning the election.
She has also opposed calls to increase the marriage age of Muslim girls from 16 to 18, saying getting married at a young age is not the main cause of marriages breaking up.