They considered Law Number 1 of 1974 discriminative because it only regulates marriages between men and women, he said when opening the regional conference of the United Development Party (PPP) here on Friday.
The minister said he had once said before party cadres that some people now considered the law as outdated.
He said those who said the law was discriminative viewed that the law only regulates a marriage between a man and a woman and not between a man and a man or a woman and a woman.
"Therefore they are seeking to change it," he said drawing laughter from the audience.
He said according to the law a marriage is a physical and spiritual unity between a man and a woman as a husband and a wife to build a happy family eternally made in the name of God.
He said a marriage would be legitimate if it was done according to the religious laws of the persons concerned. Every marriage is registered according to the existing law.
In principle, a man may only have one wife and a wife may only have one husband, he said.
In the law it is however also regulated that a court may allow a man to have more than one wife upon the consent of the parties concerned.
In case a husband wishes to have more than one wife he is obliged to apply for it to the court.
The court meanwhile will only give permission if his wife is unable to carry out her duty as a wife, has a physical defect or an illness which is incurable or can not bear children.
To apply for legal permission to marry again, a husband must secure the consent of his his wife or wives and be able to ensure that he is capable of meeting the needs of his wives and children and also of being fair with all the wives and their children.
A husband may not have to ask for a permit if it is impossible for him to do so because his wife or wives are not parties in the agreement or if no news is received from the wife or wives for the past two years due to causes which the judge would assess.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
