Know your rights to get fair deal, divorcees told
MIRI: Divorcees have to know their rights so that they get fair deal including their rights to properties and maintenance for their children.
Assistant director of Legal Aid Department here, Yong Suk Hui, said there was no excuse for not knowing their rights even if they had no money to pay for legal fees.
She said the Legal Aid Bureau imposed between RM2 and RM300 per service for clients having yearly income of between RM25,000 and RM30,000.
“Those with more than RM30,000 yearly income too can still apply for our services but they have to prove that they have other financial commitments like paying for house and car instalments,” said Yong yesterday.
She was conducting a talk on ‘ Women, Know Your Rights: Divorce’ with her colleague Siti Fairuz Fauzi, an assistant Syariah officer.
The talk attended by over 100 women here was organised by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak.
It was meant to create greater awareness, educate and provide information on the rights of women in divorce cases, in view of the increasing (divorce) cases in Sarawak while many are not aware of the legal processes involved.
Yong added among the rights that was not known by divorced woman were the need to review maintenance for their children because of the rising cost of living.
“Although the court will initially decide on the amount of maintenance to be paid according to the former husband’s ability, the amount could be reviewed after several years if there is proof of the increase in the cost of living for the child’s education, food and accommodation.
“For defaulters, the court too could order payment of outstanding maintenance fees, and also decide the mode of payment.
However, it is important that the court is able to get in touch with the father of the children concerned,” she said.
She added that the review of maintenance could also be heard in the civil court.
To a question on whether divorce cases of those migrating overseas but had their marriages registered in Malaysia, she said it could only be done in Malaysia and not overseas.
The law of the country applies and not in the country where they migrated to.
Meanwhile those needing services of the Legal Aid Bureau should contact the nearest offices in Sibu, Miri and the headquarters in Kuching ( Level 6, Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, Jalan Simpang Tiga), 082- 258699 ( Management & Civil)/ 082- 258416 / 082- 238509 ( Syariah & Mediation) or email: ronie.entili @ jbg.gov.my.
The Miri office is housed at Level 13, Wisma Yulan, Jalan Brooke.
The telephone number is 085423606, email: yong. sukhui @ jbg.gov.my while the Sibu office is at Level 10 (Section A), Wisma Vasty, Jalan Pulau, telephone No: 084- 343978 and email: norkamal. kassim @ jbg.gov.my