Mujahid: Gov't may freeze bank accounts of Muslim men who fail to pay alimony

PETALING JAYA: Ex-husbands who fail to pay nafkah (alimony) to their children and former wives may have their bank accounts frozen.

According to a report in Sinar Harian, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa (pic) said that the ministry officials had held discussions with the State Syariah Judiciary Department (JKSN).

The talks, he added, touched upon how to implement actions including freezing bank accounts in an effort to empower enforcement against Muslim individuals who disobey court orders.

He was speaking to reporters after a town hall session here on Wednesday (Nov 7).

According to Mujahid, many women are not afforded justice in terms of alimony, which is decided upon by the Syariah court.

He stressed that once a decision had been made by the court, the amount should be paid.

The issue had been discussed at several levels, he said, expressing hopes that enforcement would be stepped up to include bank restrictions.

"We need a bit of authority to act on husbands who do not pay alimony to their former wives. Many ex-wives have no place to forward their complaints to, and there are flaws from an enforcement point of view," said Mujahid.

Many divorced women do not get what they are rightfully entitled to when ex-husbands feel they are not obliged to fulfil their responsibility to pay alimony, he added.