Malaysian state mulls cash incentives for men to marry single mums

Jun 21, 2011, 10:03 GMT

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's north-eastern state of Kelantan is considering incentives for men who marry single mothers, officials said Tuesday.

The incentives would be aimed at reducing the 45,000 registered single mothers in the state, women development committee chairperson Wan Ubaidah Omar said.

The only condition would be that the men would first have to inform their first wives of their intentions, she was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper. It wasn't clear whether the wife's approval was needed.

Wan Ubaidah said the state government was trying to encourage 'healthy polygamous marriages.'

Kelantan is the most conservative state and has been ruled by the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia for more than two decades.

Rights groups have criticized the Islamist party in the past for controversial laws including forbidding women to wear makeup to work and banning female artists from performing in public places.

The party has begun introducing reforms to tone down its hardline reputation and attract young voters in recent years.