KUALA LUMPUR In the latest twist to a controversial debate, Muslim women in Malaysia have been told they have the right to include a no-polygamy clause in their marriage contracts.

Sisters In Islam research manager Nik Noriani Nik Badli Shah told Saturday's Star newspaper that not many Muslim women were aware of this right, and those who did were discouraged from using it by social pressure.

"It is up to individual couples whether to use it or not, but Islam sanctions the inclusion of such conditions in the marriage contract," she said.

Muslim countries such as Syria, Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan and Bangladesh had already adopted the ruling that a husband who had agreed in his marriage contract not to take another wife would be bound by that stipulation, the Star said.