PETALING JAYA: The freezing of bank accounts of ex-husbands who ignore court orders to pay nafkah (alimony) to their ex-wives is expected to be implemented this year.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun said the ministry would hold engagement sessions with related ministries and agencies.
She said the onus was not only on her ministry but also on the syariah courts and other quarters to implement the measure.
"The ministry will assist in streamlining the processes to ensure that the victims get justice.
"As such, the ministry will hold further discussions with related ministries and agencies.
"Given that the announcement has already been made, the next step is the implementation. We hope to see it realised by this year, based on the discussions with the related agencies," she said after officiating at the upgrading project of MDC Puswari Hospital in Kota Damansara here yesterday.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced that ex-husbands who disregarded court orders to pay alimony to their ex-wives would see their bank accounts frozen.
He said this was among the measures decided upon by the government as a gesture of appreciation and to preserve the rights of women, especially those who were divorced.
He said the government would also instruct banks to channel the payments decided upon by the courts directly to the former spouses.
Rina said the announcement would be welcomed by women who suffered at the hands of their ex-husbands because they were denied alimony.
"The fact is that there are many cases of ex-husbands failing to pay alimony to their former spouses despite being instructed to do so by the courts.
"As such, following this announcement, once a court order is issued, the ex-husband's bank account will be frozen and the money will be channelled directly to the woman.
"This is a welcome development and should be heralded by all women."
In November last year, the syariah courts, in a statement, had said husbands or ex-husbands who failed to pay nafkah could have their bank accounts suspended following an amendment to Schedule 11 of the Financial Services Act 2013, Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 and Financial Institutions Act 2002, which was passed and gazetted on Feb 10.
