1. PROCEDURAL MATTERS RELATED WITH DIVORCE ACCORDING TO IFLA

2. Section 45:JURISDICTION
The court may only issue order of divorce if:
The marriage is registered/deemed to be registered OR,
In accordance with Hukum Syarak , AND
Either of the parties is the resident of FT, when application is made.

3. Application for Divorce
In prescribed form that contains:
Particular on the marriage
Jurisdiction of court
Previous matrimonial proceeding
Reasons to divorce
Steps to reconcile dispute
Any agreements
Order sought
Section 47(1)

4. Normal process Received application.
summon+copy of application+ statutory declaration – for inquiry/investigation-consent.
After satisfied, advice husband to pronounce talaq.
Court record talaq-send copy to registrar.
Section 47 (2),(3),(4)

5. If Party not Consent/Possibility to Reconcile
Set up concilliatory committee (Jawatankuasa Pendamai).
The committee has 6 months to complete the task.
If fail, issue certificate about their inability to reconcile.
Attach any agreement-maitenance, custody, division of property.
Section 47 (5) to (12)

6. Then, the court advice husband to pronounce talaq.
If husband did not appear, or refuse:
The court refer to Hakam
Section 47 (14)

7. If the Reconciliation effected
The application for divorce would be dismissed
Section 47(13)

8. The CC will not be set up if:
The whereabouts of any party is
not known.
Outside west Malaysia (Peninsular)
Imprisoned three years or more
Suffering incurable mental illness
Other reason accepted by the court
Section 47(15)

9. Divorce not affected for talaq raj’I until expiry of iddah period.
Divorce during pregnancy not affected until delivery/abortion/miscarriage.

10. Why Hakam is established?
Generally:
Set up when a husband did not/able to present in court or refuse to pronounce talaq…
….when the court advise him to do so….
….after Conciliatory committee failed to reconcile the husband and wife.
Refer section 47(14)
Section 48 (10) to (7)

11. Condition: Court believes there are “constant syiqaq”
Two hakams or arbitrators would be appointed to represent both parties.
Preference: family members.
If hakams unable to agree, or did not do their job well, the court may replace them.

12. What Hakams Should Do?
Try to get full authority to act on behalf of them…
…After the negotiation fail, hakam may pronounce talaq for husband, with court’s consent.
The divorce would be recorded, certified copy send to registrar and chief registrar for registration in a register of nikah, cerai & rujuk.

13. If No Authority is Obtained?
Court would appoint another hakams with full authority to order a divorce.
The divorce would be recorded, certified copy send to registrar and chief registrar for registration in a register of nikah, cerai & rujuk.

14. Sharimah Muhamad lwn Ahmad Burhanuddin Abdullah [2009] 1 CLJ (Sya) 295
DAUD MUHAMMAD HR, MAHMOOD ZUHDI ABD MAJID HR, IDRIS YUSOFF HR
Apabila perbicaraan berjalan dengan mendengar keterangan kedua-dua pihak termasuk saksi-saksi jika ada, mahkamah akan memberi pendapatnya sama ada ianya berkemungkinan yang munasabah bagi perdamaian bagi pihak-pihak itu mengikut sub-s. 47(5)...
...atau mahkamah berpuashati bahawa perkelahian (shiqaq) sentiasa berlaku antara pihak-pihak itu mengikut sub-s. 48(1) kerana kedua-dua peruntukan tersebut (s. 47 dan 48) adalah berkaitan dan hendaklah dibaca bersama, tidak boleh dipisahkan.
Memang bagi permulaan untuk mendengar kes perceraian hendaklah bermula dengan borang 10 mengikut s. 47 dan setelah perbicaraan berjalan apabila mahkamah berpendapat ada kemungkinan perdamaian teruskanlah sehingga ke akhirnya peruntukan s. 47 itu.
Dan jika mahkamah berpuashati dari keterangan saksi-saksi atau pengakuan suami sendiri bahawa perkelahian atau shiqaq telah berlaku antara pihak-pihak itu sudah tentu akan dirujuk kepada s. 48 seterusnya...
...dan mahkamah tidak semestinya apabila bermula dengan s. 47 diteruskannya sehingga ke akhir seksyen tersebut kerana kalau begitu keadaannya s. 48 tidak akan berfungsi lagi kerana semua kes perceraian mesti dimulakan dengan s. 47.