Challenges and Innovations in Harmonising Sharīʿah and Modern Family Law: Malaysia Experience
Abstract
Harmonisation of Sharīʿah and civil law particularly in Malaysia is not a new concept. It has existed and ongoing informally in Malaysian Legal system. As Malaysia is practicing dual legal system, i.e. Islamic and civil law, harmonisation of laws seems significant in the sense that both Sharīʿah and civil law are applicable to all Malaysians, Muslims and non-Muslims. This paper seeks to examine challenges and innovations in harmonising Sharīʿah and modern family law particularly in Malaysia being multi-racial country. The paper will address selected family law issues that is deemed harmonised as well as the main challenges and innovations in harmonising several related family law issues that are not deemed harmonised which include matters relating to remedy in breach of betrothal agreement, age of marriage, maintenance of wife and children, child adoption and custody, polygamous marriage, registration of marriage and divorce and one court solution in the case of conversion to Islam. The research adopts qualitative research methodology based in the library It is hoped that this study will provide a useful source of reference to all that seeks understanding and sampling on harmonisation of Sharīʿah and civil law particularly in modern family law.
References
Act 21.
Act 257.
Act 263.
Age of Majority Act 1971, sec. 2.
Age of Majority Act 1971, sec. 4.
Annotated Statutes of Islamic Federal Territories Act 1984, p. 106.
Azizah Mohd. (2012). Adoption as a means of child protection: The law and practice in Malaysia. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, 22(1-2), pp. 79-89.
Azizah Mohd, Nadhilah A. Kadir. (2019). Minimum age of marriage under Islamic Law and the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984: A preliminary study on the ideal age of marriage in Malaysia. Al-Shajarah, 24(2), pp. 239-266.
Azizah Mohd, Najibah Mohd Zin, Nadhilah A. Kadir, & Zati Ilham Abdul Manaf. (2023). Registration of Adoptions Act 1952: Towards harmonisation of adoption laws governing Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia. In: Harmonisation of Shariah and Law: Approaches and Progress, Harun M. Hashim Law Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pp. 155-176.
Azizah Mohd, Normi Abd Malek, Badruddin Ibrahim, & Khadijah Mohd Najid. (2023). Divorced wife’s right to maintenance under Islamic and civil law: Possibility of harmonisation. In: Harmonisation of Shariah and Law: Approaches and Progress, Harun M. Hashim Law Centre, IIUM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pp. 123-153.
Chia, Lee & Associates. (n.d.). Adoption in Malaysia: Frequently asked questions. Retrieved August 12, 2024, from https://chialee.com.my/adoption-in-malaysia-frequently-asked-questions/
Child Act 2001, sec. 2(1).
Holcroft v Dickenson, 3 Keble 148; 84 ER 645.
Kamariah bt Ahmad v Nur Asmira bte Abdullah [2015] 3 SHLR 21.
Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, ss. 5-7; Penal Code (Cap 45), s. 494.
Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, s. 10.
Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, s. 51 (before amendment 2017).
Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, ss. 27 & 107.
Legitimacy Act 1961, Act 60, s. 4.
Lettmaier, S. (2010). Broken engagements: The action for breach of promise of marriage and the feminine ideal, 1800-1940. Oxford University Press.
Ng Siew Pian v Abdul Wahid b Abu Hassan, Kadi daerah Bukit Mertajam & satu yang lain [1992] 2 MLJ 425.
Noor Aziah Mohd Awal. (2018). Child Marriage in Malaysia. University Kebangsaan Malaysia for UNICEF. Retrieved October 27, 2018, from https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/ChildMarriage_Malaysia_WorkingPaper_v2.pdf
Qur'ān, 2:233.
Qur'ān, al-Nisa: 6.
Qur'ān, surah al-Talaq: 4.
Re Loh Toh Met, desd, Kong Lai Fong & Ors v Loh Peng Heng [1961] MLJ 234.
Rafeah Saidon et al. (2009). Reappraisal of governance for underage marriage in Malaysia. In S. K. A. Manan, F. A. Rahman & M. Sahri (Eds.), Contemporary Issues and Development in the Global Halal Industry: Selected Papers from the International Halal Conference 2014, pp. 108-109. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1452-9_10.
Salbiah Othman v Hj Ahmad Abdul Ghani, (2006) JH 114.
Shaltut, M. M. (2001/1421). Al-Fatawa: Dirasah li mushkilat al-Muslim al-mu‘asir fi hayatihi al- yawmiyyah al-ammah. Dar al-Shuruq.
Shari'ah Law (Selangor) Enactment 2003, ss. 8, 8A.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Azizah Bitni Mohd
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
