Malaysia's conservative Islamic party has been criticised over a loyalty oath sworn by some of its legislators who have pledged to divorce their wives if they ever switch parties. Khalid Samad, a member of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS), which is part of the opposition alliance, said he took the oath when he was selected to contest the 2008 general elections.
"It is a verbal oath. Under the oath, a candidate promises not to sell out the party or hop to another party. If the candidate does it, he will have to divorce his wife," he told AFP. Khalid, a 52-year-old member of the national parliament, said the practice was currently confined to PAS members in Selangor state, which is controlled by the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance. It relates to both state and national legislators.
Party-hopping has become a hot political issue in Malaysia since 2008 elections that handed the opposition unprecedented gains. The Pakatan Rakyat tried and failed to seize power by signing up dozens of defectors.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which rules nationally, earlier this year managed to claw back one of the states it lost in the polls by luring opposition legislators to switch sides. Women's minister Sharizat Jalil condemned the loyalty oath.
"I cannot fathom how they could resort to something so degrading and mean. What happens if their wives are apolitical? It's just so sad," Sharizat was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper Saturday. Harussani Zakaria, an influential mufti from Perak state, said that marriage was not a "playful issue."
"In Islam, even though divorce is legal, it is disliked or undesirable because God detests the action," he told the daily. Khalid rejected the criticism and said the oath would ensure opposition lawmakers do not betray their constituents and their party.
"Politics is not a game. It is a serious commitment. We cannot break the people's trust. We put our wives on the line. It is to demonstrate that we do not betray the voters," he said. Teresa Kok, a lawmaker with the Democratic Action Party, which is a member of the opposition alliance, also hailed the pledge, saying: "It means they will not leave their party or their wives. It shows their commitment to the party."