Amend the law, give Syariah court more bite to go after alimony dodgers, says Mujahid

SHAH ALAM - Amanah vice president Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa has called for the government to amend the appropriate financial Acts under the purview of the Finance Ministry (MoF) to recognise Syariah court orders to freeze bank accounts of ex-husbands who refuses to provide alimony.

In a Facebook post today, the former religious affairs minister said PH had implemented a similar policy back in 2018 however lacks efficacy a financial institution does not recognise Syariah court orders to freeze or garnish funds from bank accounts.

“So far the decision of the Syariah Court is not listed as a decision bound under the Finance Ministry Act. The results of which is that action can't be taken from the Syariah Courts orders and this is very saddening because it affects the rights of divorced wives without any consideration of their alimony needs,'' he said.

Mujahid then urged for the Syariah Judiciary Department, the religious affairs minister as well as Bank Negara law division to discuss the necessary amendments to recognised Syariah court orders to freeze or garnish bank accounts of ex-husbands who refused to pay alimony.

This comes after the Umno's annual general assembly (PAU) held last Saturday where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that government plans to implement such a policy to freeze bank accounts of former husbands who refuses to pay alimony.

Mujahid however chided Ismail Sabri, stating that he hopes for the government to properly amend the law to ensure that the policy will have an actual effect.

"Without the necessary amendments, I consider the PM (prime minister) is only spouting rhetoric during PAU to garner political support,'' he said.