Kuala Lumpur, June 10 (ANI): A 49-year-old Malaysian man has been granted permission to take a fourth wife after fathering 25 children with the other three.

Abu Bakar Embong, a grandfather of three, has received consent from the Syariah High Court in conservative northern Terengganu state after showing he was able to meet the financial needs of all four wives.

Embong told Syariah High Court Judge Shaikh Ahmad Ismail that he could provide for his existing family as his monthly income was about RM20,000.

“I can guarantee that it will never be not enough, New Straits Times quoted him, as telling the judge.

Shaikh Ahmad granted him consent for a fourth wife as he had fulfilled the requirements needed under Islamic law, which included consent from the three wives, who also confirmed that their husband could support all four wives.

The wives told Shaikh Ahmad that they each had a house and car from Abu Bakar.

The judge also advised Abu Bakar to tend to the religious education of his children and to always be fair to all his wives.

The three wives Asnah Jusoh, 46, Mazumi Ismail, 45, and Norazlina Ariffin, 25, said that their husband was a loving, honest and responsible man.

“In fact, I helped arrange the proposal for the fourth wife, with the help of the other two,” Mazumi said.

“We get on well and we are cooperative. If one of us is in labour, we will be by each other’s side and every weekend we get together with the children, she added.

His children, 11 boys and 14 girls, have also agreed to his plan to marry Suhaili Alias, 25.

The wedding is expected to take place later this week. (ANI)