Where a man embraces Islam just before a divorce, where for will the matrimonial property go? This difficult question is only a tip of the iceberg of the current legal limbo in issues relating to conversion. This and various other questions need to be answered because in cases of conversion of one party to the…
Why is gender mainstreaming important?First, it is an issue of development effectiveness. As it is a public policy concept of assessing the different implications for women and men of any planned policy action in all areas and levels, women’s voice needs to be heard. Why? It is because a growing body of evidence confirms that the…
Would there be more justice for women, and would law be more justly implemented, if the judiciary contained more women throughout the legal system, and especially in the higher courts? In the context of Civil Courts, this question has been succinctly answered by the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, the Chief Justice of Canada who said…
Child abuse dominates headlines again. This time with Syafiah Humairah and Hareswarral’s death. These two tragedies are just continuation of child abuse cases that unfortunately end in death. The main question is, are we nearer finding an effective solution than we were when we were sensitized to the problem when it first hit the public…
In the continuing debate on social and moral stability in modern Malaysia, the family unit is consistently a prominent focus. Despite the wealth of other institutions which create and reinforce values and behavioral norms – schools, work, peer groups, the mass media – the family is still regarded as the fundamental focus and agent of…
In order to understand the concept of divorce, one must appreciate the different nature of marriage from the Islamic perspective. The difference in the concept of marriage is reflected in the approach adopted for divorce. In Western society, marriage is viewed from the perspective of individual happiness. If notion of romantic love and individual happiness…
When divorce occurs, majority of the children live with their custodial mothers. However, the right of access would normally be given to non-custodial fathers. For many reasons, contact with non-custodial father may lessen over time or become non-existent. Social policy analysts, welfare experts and mental health professionals have shown concerned on fathers’ absence after divorce…
Polygamy remains a controversial issue not only in Malaysia but also in many Muslim countries around the world. It has been the subject of many debates but is actually far from settled (latest – newly-formed polygamy club propagated by Ikhwan). According to a Malaysian anthropologist, Professor Azizah Kassim, whenever the issue of polygamy is debated…
As different family laws apply to different communities within the same national legal system, by right, there should be minimal interrelationship. However, on the few occasions that they intersect, there is much confusion and tension created as much by adjective law and juridical issues as the conflicting substantive family laws. The family law in Malaysia…
KEMPEN ‘Nafas Baru Mulai Ramadan’ yang disasarkan kepada perokok Muslimin dan Muslimat agar meninggalkan tabiat itu secara beramai-ramai mulai Ramadan ini, akan menyingkap punca mereka merokok. Kementerian Kesihatan bersama Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia, Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia, Persatuan Perubatan Islam Malaysia, Pusat Racun Negara dan beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan menjalankan pelbagai strategi dan kegiatan untuk…
