A Johor state MP has urged authorities to award medals to Muslim women who allow their husbands to marry single mothers, a report said today.

The government must help single mothers by "awarding medals to wives who allow their husbands to marry single mothers," Ali Shikh Ahmad, a member Johor state assembly, reportedly said.

"There are many single mothers, especially in the villages, who need men's protection and should be taken care of particularly by the wealthy," he was quoted as saying by the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia .

Four wives

Muslim men are allowed to have four wives but must seek approval from their wives before marrying.

Ahmad called on the state religious council to ease restrictions so that Muslim men could marry single mothers.

He also urged the government to curb the growing number of single mothers to prevent new social problems in the state. - AFP