Women senators who are against the amendment bill on the Federal Territory's Islamic Family Laws - which allegedly discriminates the rights of Muslim women - must be allowed to exercise conscience voting.

Opposition parliamentarian Teresa Kok expressed her regrets that the 16 women senators had been directed to pass the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) (Amendment) Bill 2005 in the senate today despite opposing the law.

They must be allowed to take an opposing stand and reflect it through their votes as this is a part of democracy, Kok said in a statement today.

"Although Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz said yesterday that the government will take note of the senators' grouses, it is regrettable that he and the cabinet did not allow senators to exercise conscience voting on this issue."

She said that the grouses may have basis considering that the Joint Action Group on Gender Equality - which comprises six women organisations including Sisters in Islam (SIS), All Women's Action Society (AWAM) and Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) - have expressed concern over this bill.

Easy path for polygamy?

Kok said the women groups see the senate as "the last bastion" to have the bill reviewed instead of it being passed in a hasty manner as what had happened in the Dewan Rakyat,

"In September 2005, MPs were given less than a week to study the bill before it was opened to debate, and this has caused the bill to be passed hastily."

"In actual fact, the bill has a few questionable clauses which will have far-reaching implications on Muslim women," the Seputeh MP said.

Among the controversial amendments is Section 23(9)(b) which allows a man about to marry another wife to claim part of his present wife's asset or to apply for their matrimonial home to be sold and proceeds divided.

Another controversial amendment is Section 23(4)(a) of the bill which may make it easier for men to practise polygamy as the proposed marriage need no longer be "just and necessary" but "just or necessary".

She said she chose to highlight the issue although she is not a Muslim because she understands the plight of Muslim women facing divorce.

"It is important for the cabinet which propagates Islam Hadhari to consider the views of the women's groups, women MPs and women senators, and view the implication of passing the bill and allow the senators to cast their vote of conscience on this bill," Kok added.