20 couples complete marriage course
BINTULU: Twenty couples here have completed a marriage course, organised by Women and Family Department under the Ministry of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development, in collaboration with Alpha Malaysia Sarawak to strengthen the family institution.
Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah officiated at the graduation ceremony of the 13th marriage course here on Monday,
Alpha Malaysia ( Sarawak) regional coordinators Dr Wong Howe Tung and Gan Chuei Lian, an officer from Women and Family Department Durbvin Belli, team leaders Dr Wong Sung Ging and Mary Tong, and members Dr Edward Tiong, Dr Ong Eng, Ling Kee Eng and Chua Leng Kiang were among those present.
In her speech, Fatimah stressed the importance of mental and physical preparation for the couples before they get married to avoid future problems.
She also talked about the types of marriages in Sarawak - customary, civil marriage and marriage based on Islamic law.
She said in 2016, a total of 2,558 customary marriages were recorded, which went up in 2017 to and 2,766. Civil marriage: 8,053 cases in 2016 and 8,043 in 2017; syariah, 6,210 in 2017 and 6,581 in 2017.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,175 divorce cases involving customary marriages were recorded in 2016 compared to 1,197 in 2017. Civil marriage (divorce) in 2016 were 1,093 cases, and 955 cases recorded in 2017. For syariah, 2,172 divorce cases were recorded in 2016 against 2,054 in 2017.
“Whatever the numbers are, divorce is always heartbreaking for the couples, and also their children,” said Fatimah.
She said various factors (leading to divorce) had been identified among young couples in Sarawak, and these were discussed in the marriage course.