Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) has expressed support to a minister's proposal for polygamous husbands to identify joint assets.

Requiring Muslim husbands to identify assets jointly procured with his spouse before he takes another would safeguard the interest and dignity of the first wife, its women's wing chief Dr Harlina Halizah Siraj said.

She said a wife has the right to claim what she deserves based on her contribution to the family, in the event the husband takes another wife, to ensure that the first wife and children were not neglected.

"This is also to establish a kind of mutual understanding between the husband and wife, where the husband must acknowledge the contributions of the wife and the wife will have to be accountable for her responsibilities to the family," Harlina told malaysiakini.

She was commenting on a Women, Family and Community Development Ministry proposal for Muslim men to declare joint assets with their wife before taking on another.

Under the proposal, Syariah Court will be able to order husbands seeking permission to marry another woman to nominate a person that will inherit a particular asset, reports Bernama on Tuesday.

Fairness

Harlina added that the terms of the proposal needs to be spelt out in detail to avoid confusion.

Also lauding the proposal, senior syariah lawyer Karmar Ainiah believed that jointly held assets between husband and wife have to be documented to ensure fair distribution of assets in the event the husband takes another wife.

"With the existence of such guidelines, the Syariah Court can easily determine (entitlement of the first wife) before allowing the husband to take on another wife," Karmar said when contacted.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the proposal was prompted by complaints from non-governmental organisations and the Islamic Development Department over husbands neglecting their first wife and her children after marrying another.

She added that the proposal has been submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers for consideration