National Commission for Women Asks PKS To Confirm Party Mechanisms After Revocation Of Polygamy Recommendation

JAKARTA - The National Commission for Women asked the Partai Keadilan Sosial (PKS) to explain further steps and mechanisms after revoking the polygamy rule. This is so that the recommendation will not be repeated.

"Learning from this incident, PKS needs to explain what steps and mechanisms will be developed by the party so that these discriminatory policies and programs will not be repeated in the future", said National Commission for Women Chair, Andy Yetriani, Friday, October 1.

National Commission for Women, continued Andy, deeply regrets the suggestion of polygamy to marry a widow that was announced by the Chairman of the Central Sharia Board (DSP) of PKS Fraction, Surahman Hidayat.

Therefore, he believes that PKS needs to explain again about the future mechanism after revoking the recommendation so that it is not just a means of justifying unilateral interests.

Because according to him, PKS uses the impact of the pandemic as an excuse to justify polygamy with a discriminatory perspective against women.

"Moreover, previously it was conveyed by the Chairman of the Sharia Council as if this program has also been supported by studies of women in their party", he said.

In fact, said Andy, there are many ways to help families affected by the pandemic without the need to justify sponsoring orphans by marrying the child's mother. For example, ensuring access to education for children and economic empowerment for mothers.

"That could be an effective approach", he said.

Previously, the Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) had revoked the party's rules regarding licensing of cadres who were morally and materially capable of polygamy.

The chairman of the PKS Central Sharia Board, Surahman Hidayat, apologized after the suggestion that polygamy by marrying a widow received a negative response from several circles.

"We apologize if this suggestion has caused public unrest and has hurt the hearts of some Indonesians", Surahman told reporters, Friday, October 1.

Surahman admitted to withdrawing Tazkirah number 12 from the Three-Party Solidarity program regarding the recommendation for polygamy for PKS Party members.

"After we received various inputs from the board, members, and the general public, we decided to withdraw the polygamy recommendation", he said.