The Malaysian government has decided to put on hold the much controversial Islamic Family Law Act (Amendment) 2005 for further discussion, bringing a sense of relief to women's groups in the country.

The cabinet made a decision Wednesday not to gazette the law act, which was passed by the Parliament last month despite protests of women senators and non-governmental organizations (NGO) , Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said.

Though women's groups protested strongly that the act was unfair and made Muslim men easier to practice polygamy and divorce their wives, the Parliament gave a green light to it in December of 2005, with the government saying amendments could be made later.

The act is now with the Supreme Head of State Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, who can give his royal consent, but the act will not come into force until it is gazetted.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who chaired the cabinet meeting, took the objections of women's groups seriously and called for another round of discussions with the possibility of amending the law, Mohamed Nazri said Wednesday.

At the meeting, both the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the Attorney-General's Chambers put forward notes on the act.

"The prime minister wants us first to look at the two notes and come back to discuss this thoroughly. He is very concerned about it," Mohamed Nazri told reporters in the administrative center of Putrajaya.

The cabinet will wait for Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to return from Mecca, the Muslim holy city in Saudi Arabia, before discussing the matter further.

Badawi has also asked Shahrizat to consult non-governmental organizations for their views on the act.

"He wants unity and hopes that the NGOs can help her present a united front to overcome the controversy," Mohamed Nazri said.

According to local media reports, Badawi also instructed the cabinet not to set a date for the enforcement of the act.

The passing of the act made front-page stories in local newspapers, triggering concerns and objections of women from various groups and backgrounds in this country.

In late December, Shahrizat, who voiced her strong objections from the very beginning, said her ministry had submitted a memorandum to the government and asked the latter to review the law discriminating against women.

"I have not been satisfied with the implementation of Syariah ( Islamic) laws for a long time, especially provisions on polygamy, divorce and maintenance and also bias against women. Worst of all is delay in cases where women seek justice," Shahrizat told reporters on Dec. 24.

Now the cabinet's decision to put on hold the controversial act has been welcomed by Malaysian women.

National Council of Women's Organization President Sharifah Hapsah Shahabudin said the decision was "wonderful," adding that it showed the cabinet was serious about getting feedback and having further discussions on the matter.

Meanwhile, Sisters in Islam Executive Director Zainah Anwar suggested that the government should set up a parliamentary select committee (PSC) to look into the matter.

"We also want the government to consult us in drafting the new law. The procedure should be identical to that adopted for the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 for non-Muslim, when the PSC held a public enquiry throughout the nation to get feedback," Zainah was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.

Source: Xinhua