Asian Geographic 2017

CULTURE

In the company clinic, for example, clients pay as much

as they can afford – those with little means pay nothing.

The goal is not to make a profit; rather it is to adhere

to good Islamic practices, according to the CEO. “A good

Muslim is not simply a person who stays in the mosque or

is fasting. A good Muslim is the person who benefits other

people,” Lokman explains.

Walking around the facilities, one cannot help but notice

the ubiquity of colourful headscarves. “Here we encourage

women to work, because they have to contribute to the

society. One quarter of the employees are men,” says the chief

executive. “The rest are women.”

His wives are no different. Linked to the original

Al-Arqam sect in one way or another, all of them work

or have previously worked for the company. They also

attended Global Ikhwan schools or pursued higher education

at company-approved universities.

left Azlina Jamaluddin

(right) visits friend

Nik Raihana, 27, who

delivered a baby at the

Global Ikhwan clinic

above Lokman Hakim

has lunch with his four

wives and three of his

27 children in a Chinese

restaurant in Rawang

P olygamy iN Numbers

Polygamy was rejected by

61 percent of all males and by

85 percent of all female young

Malaysians between 15 and 25

reject Polygamy

Up to 60 percent of the children

of first wives demonstrated

negative emotions towards their

fathers marrying again

Under Malaysian law, it’s legal for

Muslim men to marry up to four

wives, although they must obtain

permission from a Shariah court

61% 85%

The number of polygamous

marriages in Malaysia is around

five percent but is increasing

marginally from year to year

5%

60%

negative emotions

*Data sourced from Sisters in Islam^63