EX-HUSBANDS MAY FACE SAVINGS SEIZED FOR EVADING PAYING "NAFKAH" - MOHD NA'IM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- The government is taking steps to empower Syariah Courts to seize the financial savings of ex-husbands who evade paying court-ordered “nafkah” (financial support) maintenance, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

He said the Family Support Division (BSK) under the Malaysian Syariah Judiciary Department (JKSM) has held discussions with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to facilitate the implementation of the measure through a Syariah Court order.

“This initiative will be carried out by BSK, and discussions with Bank Negara have already taken place,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Dr Abd Ghani Ahmad (PN–Jerlun), who asked about the government’s monitoring mechanisms through BSK and BNM to ensure that bank accounts of ex-husbands or fathers who fail to pay maintenance can be frozen or seized.

Mohd Na’im said the government is also intensifying enforcement efforts and strengthening the execution of court orders through various legal avenues to ensure that women and children entitled to financial support receive justice.

Apart from that, he said the BSK is also working to raise awareness among other family members who are legally and religiously responsible for providing child support, besides husbands or fathers, to ensure they fulfil their obligations as stipulated under Islamic law.

He said enforcement measures are also being strengthened through collaboration with several government agencies to help trace the employers and the latest addresses of judgment debtors who fail to comply with court-ordered maintenance payments.

The agencies include the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), Road Transport Department (JPJ), Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) and the National Registration Department (JPN).

“This long-term effort not only ensures the continuity of BSK’s services but also strengthens the Syariah judicial system in safeguarding the rights of women and children, as well as the overall well-being of the Islamic family institution,” he said.

-- BERNAMA