Press Statement

Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) is aghast at the attention given to the recent case where a man wanting to take a second wife was doused with acid. WAO does not condone any form of violence, and that is why WAO has chosen to speak up for the disproportionate number of girls and women who are victims of violence.

We would like to bring to light the attention that the case has received from PAS leaders. In the News Straits Times report "Advice on Polygamy" (3 August 2005, pg. 17), they were seen running to the bedside of the victim to console him. On top of this, they have offered their advice on how best to inform wives on husbands' decisions to take on second wives. We are extremely disappointed with this, as we believe that political and religious leaders should not be encouraging men to be polygamous. Political and religious leaders should be emphasizing that polygamy is allowed only in very exceptional circumstances and monogamy as an ideal state of marriage in Islam.

It would have been also fair to equally lend their support to the wife, Siti Khalifah Sulong who allegedly committed the crime. She has pleaded not guilty and is in a lock-up as she is unable to raise the bail imposed on her.

Furthermore, we would like to highlight the media attention the victim, Lans Korporal Tuan Azman Tuan Ludin, has been receiving. This case made the front page of some major local dailies. While we are in sympathy with the pain Lans Korporal Tuan Azman is suffering, we cannot ignore the fact that countless women have experienced similar and sometimes worse forms of violence but have not received similar or any news coverage.

In WAO's 24-year experience in giving counselling and lending support to many Malaysian women including Muslim women, we have found that when women resort to violence, it is a desperate measure because they have no other recourse left to them or because of self-defence. Usually women commit one-off acts of violence but men tend to be systematic and repetitive when they commit domestic violence.

In domestic violence situations women not only endure physical abuse but are also subjected to emotional abuse such as when they face threats to be abandoned for another woman.

It is our hope that the suspect Siti Khalifah Sulong, receives fair and just treatment. We hope too that the press will also highlight her plight and the plight of many thousands of women and their children who endure emotional abuse when faced with the threat of being abandoned financially and emotionally when their husbands declare their desire to take on another wife.

Women's Aid Organisation

Related articles:

• Press Statement - Perlis Policy on Polygamy
• Know Your Rights - Polygamy
• Polygamy for Non-Muslim Men