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Kuala Lumpur. A senior Malaysian Muslim lawmaker on Wednesday escaped a one-month jail sentence for polygamy after he married an actress without permission, his lawyer said.

Bung Mokhtar Radin, 51, a vocal parliamentarian from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, had his jail sentence quashed after a religious high court upheld an appeal, his counsel Amli Embong told AFP.

Muslim men in Malaysia are allowed up to four wives, but in certain parts of the country they must obtain written court consent or risk a fine or jail term under Sharia religious law.

“The court took into consideration that he is a first-time offender,” Amli said, adding that the jail sentence was converted to a fine of 1,000 ringgit (317 dollars).

“We have also argued that the court cannot pass a sentence based on the status of the person in society,” the lawyer said, arguing that the initial one-month jail term was “harsh”.

Bung and his second wife, Zizie Ezette A. Samad, 31, in April both pleaded guilty to polygamy, which carries a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment.

Activists and women’s groups in Malaysia say polygamy is cruel and has deviated from its original purpose in Islam, which was to protect widows and orphans.

More than 60 percent of Malaysia’s 27 million people are Muslim Malays, and polygamy is illegal for non-Muslims.


Agence-France Presse