LPPKN'S PEACEMAKER BODY PILOT PROJECT TO ADDRESS MARRIAGE CRISES FACED BY NON-MUSLIM FAMILIES - NANCY

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Efforts to address marriage crises and the challenges faced by non-Muslim family institutions have entered a new phase with the introduction of the Peacemaker Body Pilot Project by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) in November last year.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the project is an innovative initiative that integrates counseling, intervention, and legal approaches into a more humane and effective system.

She mentioned that the project was established due to concerns over the rising divorce cases in the country, which recorded a total of 62,890 cases in 2022 compared to 43,936 cases in 2021, before dropping to 57,835 cases in 2023.

"Through this project, it will serve as a pre-legal space to help couples seek solutions before cases are filed in court, through counseling with both parties, and by providing a platform for counseling and family conferencing.

"It acts as a mechanism for empowering data-and research-based social services, with five research grants valued at RM240,000 currently underway to develop evidence-based interventions," she said.

She was speaking at the Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Peacemaker Body Pilot Project between the National Registration Department (JPN) and the National Population and Family Development Board here today in the presence of Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Nancy said the project is significant because it combines JPN's expertise in non-Muslim marriage and divorce registration with LPPKN's expertise in strengthening family institutions and providing counseling and social intervention.

Since its implementation until last September, a total of 83 couples have been involved, and 16 per cent or 13 couples have been successfully reconciled under LPPKN's guidance.

Elaborating on the matter, Saifuddin Nasution said the 16 per cent success rate is significantly higher than the national average, which is only two per cent of couples successfully reconciled when cases were handled entirely by JPN over the last 10 years.

"The success of the pilot project in Kuala Lumpur was the main catalyst for the signing of the memorandum between JPN and LPPKN today. The memorandum is effective for a period of three years, until 2028, and will expand the pilot project nationwide.

"This collaboration not only strengthens the functions of JPN and LPPKN in supporting the family institution but is also in line with the MADANI Government's agenda, which prioritizes social welfare, creating community harmony, and strengthening family development as the foundation of a progressive and resilient nation," he said.

-- BERNAMA