FILM director Mohd Shamsul Md Yusof (better known as Syamsul Yusof) today filed a nusyuz (disobedient) application against his wife, actress Puteri Sarah Liyana Megat Kamaruddin (Puteri Sarah) at the Gombak Timur Shariah Lower Court. 

Syamsul, 39, filed the application before Registrar Harun Hashim at 3.10pm. 

According to his statement of claim, the defendant would often contact her ex-lover, thus disrupting their marriage. 

Syamsul alleged that the defendant had left his side for more than two years, saying he had used various measures to persuade Puteri Sarah to return home, but she refused and slandered him. 

Syamsul is seeking the court’s declaration that his wife has committed nusyuz since October 2020 and is not entitled to receive maintenance payments. 

The application was made under Section 60(2) of the Islamic Family Law (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003 and Section 61(3)(b)(i) of the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003. 

Earlier, Syamsul’s counsel, Azmi Mohd Rais, informed the court that they would submit a summons to Puteri Sarah soon, adding that case mention had been fixed for April 6. 

Meanwhile, Syamsul told reporters that his aim was to save their marriage for the sake of their children. 

On January 16, Puteri Sarah filed for divorce under Section 47 of the Islamic Family Law Act (Federal Territories) 1984. 

On March 7, shariah lawyer Roshdan Sujak, representing Syamsul, said his client had received the divorce application but did not agree to the divorce.  

Puteri Sarah’s lawyer, Akberdin Abdul Kader, then requested for the application to go through the family arbitration process without going through the Reconciliation Committee (JKP), to which Roshdan objected, saying that the matter should first go through the JKP. 

Federal Territories Shariah Lower Court Judge Akmaluddin Ilyas then ordered the couple to appoint their representative as a member of the JKP after finding that there were no unusual circumstances in Puteri Sarah’s application. – Bernama, March 21, 2023.