Islamic party mulls marriage rewards

Islamic party mulls marriage rewards

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): An Islamic party which controls a northeastern Malaysian state is considering paying incentives to men who marry single mothers and widows, news reports said on Monday.

At least two single mothers in Terengganu state have asked the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, to help arrange nuptials for them, said Awang Jusoh, the state official in charge of women's affairs.

Awang, quoted by the New Straits Times and Sun dailies, did not say how much the party planned to offer the men. He claimed, however, that most women were reluctant to let the party intervene. "The women tell me that they should not be treated like items which can be bargained for," Awang told the Terengganu state assembly on Sunday.

PAS, Malaysia's main opposition party, wrested Terengganu from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling National Front coalition in last year's general election, riding on promises of delivering a more Islamic government.