Debated in Parliament on 10 Jan 2022.
Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) what is the percentage of divorces in the Syariah Court that has resulted in shared care and control of the children; and (b) and (ii) Syariah Courts.
The Syariah Court’s mission is to save marriages, settle divorces amicably and deliver just outcomes. The Syariah Court has support services for divorcing couples and their minor children. These support services, such as the Marriage Counselling Programme, are premised on taking a child-centric approach towards handling divorce cases to safeguard the paramount interest and well-being of children affected by divorce and encourage co-parenting, regardless of which parent has the care and control of the child.