NUSAJAYA - Irresponsible behaviour, financial problems and family interference were cited as some of the major complaints which had led to divorces among Muslims in the state, the Johor religious department said.
State Religious Committee chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman said the department received 2,329 complaints pertaining to divorces among the Muslim community from January to October.
"A total of 18,163 marriages were recorded until October while 3,066 divorces were recorded during the same period," he said at the Johore state assembly yesterday.
Zainal said the top complaint leading to divorces among the community was about the irresponsible behaviour of spouses.
Among the complaints were spouses leaving home (256 cases), financial problems (249) and interference from family members (205).
Other problems included abuse (140 cases), polygamy (114) and drug addiction (89) and also led to divorces among Muslim couples.
"The department provides services on pre-marriage and parental courses and counselling services for couples," he told Datuk Osman Sapian (BN-Kempas).
State Women, Family, Health and Community Development chairman Dr Robia Kosai said 71 of the 194 welfare centres in the state were unregistered.
She added that the centres must fulfil the stipulated requirements before they were registered.
"We have provided advice to the unregistered centres and will follow up on the matter," she added.
Dr Robia said for private care centres, the administrators would have to adhere to the Care Centres Act 1993 before they were registered with the Welfare Department.
"The requirements include that the centres be registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) or the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
"The centres will also have to adhere to the requirements set by the Welfare Department, including having a proper ratio for caregivers and occupants at the centres," she told Datuk Ayub Rahmat (BN-Kemelah) and Datuk M.M. Samy (BN-Permas).
Dr Robia said the centres would also need approvals from the council, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Health Department before they were registered.
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