KUCHING: The number of divorce cases recorded in Sarawak annually has reached a “critical state”.
Voicing her concern over the matter, Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said more than 1,000 divorce cases involving Muslim and non-Muslim couples were registered this year.
Every year, she said couples between the age of 18 and 40 topped the list of those seeking a divorce.
“And the majority of the couples who sought a divorce have been married for five years or less,” she said at the closing ceremony of Smart Parenting Skills Programme: “Baitul Muslim and Till Jannah”, here, recently.
Irreconcilable differences, immaturity, irresponsible husbands, interference from in-laws and financial problems, she said, were the top reasons given by couples who sought to nullify their marriages.
“Some of the divorce cases stemmed from domestic violence triggered by drug and alcohol abuse.
“There were also cases of spouses suffering from depression, which soured their relationship and led them to the point of ending their marriage.
“We observed an incremental trend of people suffering from depression, which contributed to the spike in divorce cases in the state,” she said.
Fatimah said the state government will continue organising the Smart Parenting Skills Programme to address the problems that triggered divorces among couples in the state.
“This programme was introduced this year to strengthen the family institution and promote better understanding among couples by enriching them with knowledge on marriage management,” she said.