Malaysian singer Nora Ariffin defends concept of polygamy

Local singer Datuk Nora Ariffin, 49, recently took to Instagram to share her views on polygamy. Photos: Nora Ariffin/Instagram

The rocky marriage between director Syamsul Yusof, 38, and actress Puteri Sarah, 37, has been a hot topic on social media these past few weeks, with many netizens having conflicting viewpoints on polygamy.

Earlier on Jan 6, Syamsul revealed via Instagram that he tied the knot with actress Ira Kazar, 27, in Thailand. According to Puteri Sarah, who married the Mat Kilau director in March 2014, this marriage happened without her knowledge.

The two have since been hurling accusations at one another. On Jan 16, Puteri Sarah finally called it quits and filed for a divorce at the Federal Territories Syariah Court in Kuala Lumpur.

Several netizens say it's unacceptable to have a second wife while still being married whereas a few believe it's fine to do so.

In an Instagram post on Sunday (Jan 22), Malaysian artiste Datuk Nora Ariffin – whose real name is Wan Norafizah binti Wan Ariffin – defended the concept of polygamy and chastised those who were speaking ill about it.

"Be careful. When we make fun, insult or label others (for being in a polygamous relationship), we don't realise we might also be products of polygamous marriages practised in the past," she wrote.

According to mStar, The Star's Malay language news portal, Nora was worried that the netizens leaving vile comments about polygamy would eventually "eat themselves up" in the future.

"There's a chance we or our mother are made from a marriage with a second, third or fourth wife. We don't know yet, right?

"Are we willing to insult our own mother, in-laws or great grandmother by calling them homewreckers? Let's be a little emotional, OK? It's natural to be angry or frustrated, but just let it be (if you dislike polygamy)," she explained.

The Desa Tercinta hitmaker's post was taken positively by netizens on Instagram.

"It's not wrong to marry four. It's wrong when you neglect your wife," @riana_shimi84 wrote in the comment section.

"It's fine to marry another as long as it doesn't ruin the first marriage. Polygamy isn't wrong as long as we follow the laws accordingly," said @norizan.ali

Nora Ariffin got married a second time to senior lecturer Rushdi Ramli in 2021.

Nora married local composer Johan Nawawi in 1992 and welcomed four children – two sons and two daughters – in the following years. Johan sadly passed away from a heart attack on March 24, 2017.

Nora's youngest son, Muhammad Syakir Alif, passed away from an illness on Dec 14, 2019 at age 20.

In 2021, the Di Persimpangan Dilema singer married Rushdi Ramli – a senior lecturer at the Universiti Malaya and close friend of Nora's late husband, Johan.