Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said it is unreasonable for PAS to link party loyalty to divorce.

He said the loyalty oath taken by PAS members of parliament and state assemblypersons to prevent party hopping was not only cruel but could also hurt innocent family members.

"I like to remind those who made such statements to realise that divorce is a serious matter. I am worried that it will become a joke among the people," he told reporters here today.

The minister was commenting an English newspaper report today that PAS elected representatives had taken a loyalty oath that they would divorce their wives should they decide to quit the party.

Jamil said the 71st National Fatwa Committee Conference did not accept a proposal that 'lafaz taklik' (pronouncement of divorce) be included if the husband decides to practice polygamy.

"As such, it is unsuitable to invoke ‘taklik’ in matters like party hopping. It is loose, irrelevant and unreasonable," he said.

- Bernama