Kelantan MB Datuk Ahmad Yaakob says PAS lawmakers who quit the party will be considered to have divorced their wives ‘automatically’. ― File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 ― Any male Kelantan PAS lawmaker who quits the party will be considered to have divorced his wife “automatically”, the state Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yaakob has said in the wake of the controversial set-up of a new political outfit by splinter group Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB).

Several Malay dailies reported Ahmad insisting that the divorce was legit under an oath called the “third talaq bai’ah”, sworn by all its assemblymen and MPs dating back to at least 2004.

“The oath is true… When it happens, in Islam, even if we utter it once, the effect will be long-lasting,” the PAS deputy spiritual leader was quoted telling reporters in Kelantan yesterday.

“Like what have been said by Kelantan Chief Shariah Judge Datuk Daud Muhammad, don’t take light of this because the effect is lasting… Don’t play around with this,” he added.

The oath has since resurfaced on social media after PAS’ progressives were ousted at the party elections last month and went on to set up GHB as a precursor to the new Islamist political party they hope to register on September 14.

The oath is allegedly a must for Kelantan PAS lawmakers before accepting their posts and requires them to swear to divorce their wives with the “third talaq” the moment they join a new party.

Talaq ― or talak as it is spelled locally ― is a type of divorce in Islam which provides the man an avenue to initiate a divorce through simply pronouncing the word; if the man pronounces a “third talaq”, he is then prohibited from getting back with his wife again, unless he takes another woman as his wife and then divorces her afterwards before remarrying the first woman.

Malay Mail Online cannot yet verify if a similar oath exists for Kelantan PAS’ women lawmakers too, such as Demit assemblyman Mumtaz Md Nawi and Tanjong Mas assemblyman Rohani Ibrahim.

Kelatan’s chief Shariah judge had reportedly warned PAS members that such talaq was considered valid although it was recited in an oath or in jest, and breaking the oath would require them to proceed to the Shariah Court to verify the divorce.

There are at least six Kelantan PAS lawmakers who are expected to join GHB’s new party: Tumpat MP Datuk Kamarudin Jaafar, Kuala Krai MP Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, Pasir Puteh MP Datuk Dr Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad, Kelaboran assemblyman Mohamad Zaki Ibrahim, and Tendong assemblyman Rozi Mohamad.