PAS will not take disciplinary action against Khalid Samad for stating that he has taken an oath to divorce his wife if he quits the party.

The Shah Alam MP had earlier told the press that he had taken the oath when he was elected in March 2008, as had several other legislators from the party.

Speaking to reporters in the Parliament lobby today, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said that investigations into the matter have been concluded.

"We will not take any disciplinary action, and have closed the book on this," he said.

He reiterated that the ‘divorce oath' is not a party directive and that Khalid had taken the oath on his own accord.

Asked about Khalid's explanation that this was a promise between him and God, Salahuddin said: "That is his right as an individual."

NONESalahuddin also said PAS is open to differing viewpoints and that Khalid is free to express his opinion.

"We have an open policy and uphold democratic principles, thus we have agreed that everyone is free to express their views," he said.

He also denied that Khalid has been told to toe the party line in making statements in future.

PAS has been under fire from politicians and religious officials alike over the ‘divorce oath' statement. Many felt it reflected badly on the party's views on women and the family institution.

PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin told reporters yesterday that wives should not be used as collateral in sealing a political deal, especially since most wives of politicians are apolitical.

‘Niz Aziz is well'

The issue even made it into parliamentary debate yesterday, when Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Jamil Khir Baharom, quoted a hadith that the act of divorce is not a play-thing.

This led to PAS parliamentarian for Baling, Taib Azamuddin, responding that the ‘divorce oath' issue is a cerita dongeng (fairy tale) and that it had been exaggerated by those out to tarnish the party's image.

Meanwhile, the National Council of Women’s Organisation (NCWO) has described the ‘oath’ as the “highest form of injustice to women, an insult to Islam and a mockery of the sanctity of the marriage institution”.

“How could anyone in their right sense use women and family as a pawn in their political game,” it said in a statement.

NONEOn another issue, Salahuddin (left) gave the assurance that PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's health is not a cause for worry.

"I visited him myself yesterday and am assured that he is doing fine," he said.

A newspaper had yesterday reported that Nik Aziz had awoken from sleep on Thursday to find that his mouth was filled with blood.

The same day, he was admitted to the National Heart Institute for fatigue, but was still able to attend the party's seminar in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.