KUCHING: The State National Registration Department (JPN) is working together with the Sarawak Native Customs Council also known as Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (MAIS) to prevent fraud in the marital status for the non-Muslims.
According to Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women and Child Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, both parties have conducted a strategic partnership in order to gain access to the Native Marriage Electronic System (NAMES).
“Through this collaboration, adherence to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act (Act 164) of 1976, Part 2, Section 5 (1) and Native Customs (Declaration) Ordinance, 1996; Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak Ordinance, 1977; Native Court Ordinance, 1992; and Native Court Rules, 1993; Law of Sarawak (Chapter 55) – Native Customary Marriages (Maintenance) Ordinance, 2003, regarding on the monogamous marriage was enforceable,” said Fatimah.
She said this in her winding-up speech during the 2nd term of the 18th State Legislative Assembly held in Petra Jaya, Thursday.
She added from January until April 2017, a total of 167 individuals have been identify for applying for the registration of civil marriages although they are still within the bound of customary marriages.
“With this strategic partnership, the marriage that can abuse the women or their heirs can be avoided,” she said.
Fatimah also noted that based on the domestic violence cases which were reported to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), (358 cases in 2014, 279 cases in 2015, 427 cases in 2016 and 165 cases in 2017) the ministry has established an integrated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all the agencies concerned.
“The SOP which is adopted by the PDRM, the State Social Welfare Department (JKMS), State Health Department One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) and the Sarawak Women and Family Department (JWKS) was developed for the purpose of standardised management of domestic violence cases in the State so that the violence victim welfare is taken care of quickly, efficiently and accurately (CCT),” said the minister.
