CASES involving alimony claims and child custody before the Federal Territories shariah court are expected to be resolved within six months under a special programme and with the setting up of the enforcement and order implementation division.

Malaysian Shariah Judiciary Department director-general Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the new division, which serves to monitor, enforce and execute orders, will boost compliance.

He said the special programme will use existing provisions under the Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993, Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 and Shariah Court Civil Procedure (Federal Territories) Act 1998.

“Two key goals of the programme are to shorten the duration of cases and to increase compliance with orders issued by the court.

“Both elements will… give a positive perception of the shariah court and greatly benefit Muslims in Malaysia, particularly those in the Federal Territories,” he told reporters at a briefing on the programme in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The programme, approved at a cabinet meeting on May 8, will improve the handling of child custody and alimony cases, and enforcement and implementation of orders through the creation of two shariah high court branches (child custody and alimony divisions) and two shariah subordinate courts (alimony division), as well as the enforcement and order implementation division at the Federal Territories shariah court.

Its implementation will cost some RM3 million, comprising RM1 million in expenses for modifications, logistics and IT equipment, and RM2 million for 32 new emoluments. – Bernama, September 11, 2019.