Irreconcilable differences, cheating causes of divorces

0

KUALA LUMPUR: Irreconcilable difference and cheating spouses are among the main causes of divorces in first marriages, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.

Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh said a study by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) in 2014 showed most cases of divorces for males were irreconcilable difference (56.2 per cent), cheating wife (11.8 per cent) and in-laws’ interference (10 per cent).

“For women, irreconcilable difference (38 per cent), cheating husbands (20.5 per cent) and irresponsible husband (15.2 percent).

“In reference to the Fifth Malaysia Population and Family Survey (KPKM-5) conducted by LPPKN in 2014, more than one-third of the first marriages ending in divorce or separation occurred within the first five years of marriage,” she said.

She was responding to a question from Noor Amin Ahmad (PH-Kangar) on the number of divorce cases recorded by couples who were married for five years and below, the main cause of divorces and a move to address the problem.

Yeoh, who is also Segambut Member of Parliament, said 2,932 divorce cases of those marriages under five years for Muslims in all three Federal Territories were recorded by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (JAWI) in 2013 until last year.

Meanwhile, for non-Muslims, she said 14,440 cases were recorded for the same period according to statistics of the National Registration Department.

“For non-Muslims, Johor recorded the highest number at 2,860 cases for the period, followed by Kuala Lumpur (2,721) and Selangor (1,858),” she said.

Yeoh said based on the cases filed, divorce at a young age was due to trivial matters such as the wife liked to go on tours, wife liked to wash clothes at night, husband did not like his wife eating in the car, different political affiliations, husband had less salary and snoring spouse.

Hence, she said in order to further strengthen the marriage and family institution, the ministry through LPPKN has implemented pre and post-marriage programmes especially for newly-married couples.

The ministry was also in talks about non-Muslim couples sitting for such courses in accordance with their religious beliefs, she added. — Bernama