A little background here. Malaysia is predominantly a Muslim country. Islam is a religion that advocates polygamy. Other societies / religions may not agree with that practice but hey... it is their religion and Muslims have a right to practice whatever they believe in. However, in recent times, T. Murugiah, the PPP Youth chief released a statement proposing polygamy for non-Muslims . This was reported in The Star, a local newspaper on Saturday, 29 December 2001. [Note, there are two articles listed in this story of mine, the italics are the story and the words in maroon within the story are my comments.] His statement (T. Murugiah) created a furor for the next few days. This was what was published (for those of you who can't be bothered to read the entire article, I have underlined the important bits 
):
PPP Youth: Allow non-Muslim men to practise polygamy
BY K. SAITHURUKA
"KUALA LUMPUR: PPP Youth chief T. Murugiah has urged the Government to allow non-Muslim men to practise polygamy on grounds that it would provide opportunities for single women to get married and reduce the problem of men having mistresses.
In proposing this at the Youth Movement’s Second Convention yesterday, Murugiah said the move would also solve problems over the non-existence of birth certificates for children born out of wedlock.
“Polygamy is basically a good practice. What makes polygamy bad is when it is abused for sexual needs,’’ he told delegates in one of the movement’s resolutions at PWTC here.
Murugiah said the national birth ratio was one boy to six girls. [author's note: I don't recall ever reading about this statistic in the latest national statistic findings!! I am pretty sure I would remember a figure this drastic!!]
“However, we propose that men be allowed to marry a minimum of two women, according to their capabilities,’’ he said, adding that polygamy would add weight to marriage certificates, which were a requirement when registering the birth of a newborn.
He claimed that in Ipoh alone, there was 156 cases of babies classified as “born out of wedlock” and could not be registered. [author's note: perhaps a solution to this problem would be to not make marriage certificates a requirement for registering the birth of a newborn?? Single parents are commonplace in the world today. There are many single parents in developed countries and they can register a birth. Perhaps it is practices (and politicians) such as these that keep Malaysia from attaining the much sought after "developed country" status.]
However, PPP Wanita* (woman) head Dr P Vasantha disagreed with his views, saying that polygamy would not solve social problems because women were single by choice.
“Today’s women are well-educated and they are not going to give up their freedom for marriage. They will marry only when they find the right person.
“In my view, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Family Development should study incidences of babies without birth certificates. They should study why it happens and what age group it involves,’’ she said, adding that any woman would disagree to polygamy.
PPP president Senator Datuk M Kayveas, who opened the party’s Youth and Wanita* conventions, said the issue was debatable and could not be just dismissed.
On Murugiah making statements, which did not reflect the party’s views, Kayveas said: “His statements are worrying. The youth chief has his own ways of raising issues. If he goes out of the way, he needs to be corrected but that does not mean I can control what he says.
“In PPP, I don't control and don't tell anyone what to say. What they say is on their own because we are a democratic party, ’’ Kayveas said.
Kayveas said he had no problems or friction with Murugiah on party issues. “We have a good relationship. This issue was created saying that I would bring (former Parti Keadilan Nasional vice-youth chief) N Gopalakrishnan into PPP and replace Murugiah with him. This is not logical because I cannot just replace my youth chief with one from another party...."
Needless to say, PPP Youth chief T. Murugiah is a non-Muslim. So, one might say that this is a male, non-Muslim's way of promoting and hopefully legalising polygamy in a country which is predominantly Muslim. Perhaps our dear PPP Youth chief is feeling a little jealous of his Muslim counterparts who have more than one wife? But then, read on dear reader... it is not only the non-Muslim males who have this view. Penang PPP Wanita* chief Elizabeth Stanislaus (how do these people get elected is totally beyond me) was quoted in The Star on Friday, January 4, 2002 saying that "polygamy is a fact of life". Here is the story:
‘My hubby can wed one more’
By CATHERINE CHONG
PENANG: Penang PPP Wanita* chief Elizabeth Stanislaus said she would allow her husband to take a second wife “as polygamy is a fact of life which people have to accept”.
Stanislaus, 29, said while her husband assured her that he would be monogamous, she could not stop him if he wanted to commit polygamy as the decision was out of her hands. 
“I'm sure many women will agree with me that there is no problem in polygamy itself, which in my opinion is not sinful, and very common in the country. [author's note: NOT SINFUL?? Someone should remind this person what Malaysia is a MULTIRACIAL country where many religions coexist in harmony. Polygamy may be accepted by Muslims but what about the other religions??!!]
“The problem, however, lies with the children of the second wife or mistress, who will be labelled as illegitimate,” she said in an interview yesterday. [author's note: I think she is referring to the birth certificate issue again... however, is being illegitimate such a big issue these days??]
The factory production coordinator [author's note: Hmmmmm does a "factory production coordinator" need a university education to attain this position? Gawd, I can be so bitchy sometimes ] said people, especially those who lashed out at her for supporting polygamy among non-Muslim men, should “stop hiding in a dream world and wake up to reality”. [author's note: I think that it people such as Elizabeth belong in the dark ages... hasn't she heard of the feminist movement? Reality dear Elizabeth is that despite being the "submissive gender" since the beginning of time, females are now empowered to take control of their lives. Granted, it has taken time but it is getting there. Polygamy, in the conventional sense advocates two women to one man... where is the fairness in that? Reality is that certain members of the human race have problems being monogamous... and when I say that, I refer to both the male and the female of the species. If your mate has a problem with monogamy, then should you be or continue being in that relationship if you desire a monogamous one? Speaking of polygamy, has anyone explored the rights of a FEMALE to have two husbands??? ]
Several women leaders had on Thursday hit out at Stanislaus for endorsing the polygamy suggestion by PPP Youth chief T. Murugiah.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok asked Stanislaus to “shut up”, [author's note: You go girl!!!] Kapar MP K. Komala claimed her comments made women appear pathetic while Gerakan Wanita* chief Datuk Kee Phaik Cheen said PPP should not encourage the establishment of a permissive society.
Said Stanislaus: “Polygamy is a real life issue which people tend to pretend does not exist. But when someone raised the matter, that person would instantly become the target of criticism. [author's note: polygamy does exist in certain religions and I don't believe that people pretend it doesn't exist. However, when someone tries to force that belief / practice onto another religion, that's when you get criticised.]
“My endorsement is not against women but simply fighting for the rights of mistresses and trying to make life easier for them. Some became mistresses through no fault of their own when the men lied to them about their (men) marital status. [author's note: oh for gawd's sake!! If you want to fight for the their rights, make it a law whereby a mistress has the same rights as the wife i.e. if the relationship fails, and if there is sufficient proof that there indeed was a relationship, the mistress has wifey rights like alimonyprivilegess and child support. If the guy wants a mistress, he has to accept the consequences of his actions.]
“I know very well that I would get into trouble with my stand but I am merely practising my right to express my views and speak freely in a democratic country,” she said.
Same here Elizabeth, same here. I am expressing my views when I say that I disagree with your stand and I simply cannot believe that a person like you would be elected to be the PPP WANITA* chief. You are a disgrace to the female gender and in a male dominated society, you should be fighting for women's rights without making the females appear pathetic and needy.
* woman
