Malaysia's richest and most developed state is tightening its Islamic laws to make it tougher for Muslim men to take more wives, a report said Saturday.

Selangor state chief minister Mohamad Khir Toyo was quoted by The Star as saying that stricter criteria for polygamy were necessary because more divorces and secret marriages were taking place.

He said the stricter Islamic family laws, which were expected to be effective in two weeks, were also meant to protect neglected parties such as children from the first marriage.

"It is important to take care of the first wife and children. We must protect them," he said.

Although Muslim men are allowed to marry up to four wives, Khir said they must first show they could be fair to all their wives.

"If a man feels he is able to meet the condition of fairness, he has nothing to fear from our laws. Why the need to run off to get married for the second, third or fourth time in (neighboring) Thailand if there is nothing to hide?"

Appear before court

Under the new laws, a Muslim man must appear before the Syariah court with his present wife, or wives, his future wife and the "wali" or male guardian of his new wife to seek approval to marry again.

Muslim men must also give their first wife a portion of their joint income when he remarries, the daily said.

The move was in contrast to measures taken by two other states last year which eased restrictions for Muslim men to take new wives.

Northern Perlis state, bordering Thailand, allows Muslim men to marry again without consent of the first wife while northeast Terengganu state plans to ease the process for its legislators by issuing them undated letters authorising them to do so at any time.

The measures had enraged women's groups, which in March launched a campaign against polygamy.

Muslims make-up some 60 percent of Malaysia's 23 million people. Syariah law covers civil matters such as divorce for Muslims, but is not part of the criminal code under the federal government. - AFP