Puteri Sarah was hit by husband Syamsul Yusof three years ago, court told

KUALA LUMPUR: Actress Puteri Sarah Liyana Megat Kamaruddin was hit by her husband - actor and director Syamsul Yusof in an incident three years ago, the Syariah Lower Court was told.

In the proceedings involving Puteri Sarah's divorce application here on Tuesday (March 7), her lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader said that the incident had forced his client to move out of the couple's matrimonial home in 2020.

The matter was revealed when Rushdan Sujak, who represented Syamsul, told the court that there was still "sinar" (hope) for the two to reconcile.

Rushdan said there was "prospect for reconciliation" if the plaintiff, Puteri Sarah, returned home as the defendant claimed that it was Puteri Sarah who left while Syamsul was still working on saving the marriage.

At this point, Puteri Sarah seemed uneasy and was seen giving instructions to her lawyer before Akberdin stood up to rebut the statement.

"My client left the house after she was hit but returned after her parents-in-law persuaded her to come home," the lawyer said.

Akberdin said that based on the facts, there was no room for reconciliation as "the marriage was over".

"The prospect to save the marriage is zero," Akberdin said.

The court was also informed by Rushdan that Syamsul objected to Puteri Sarah's divorce application and the reasons stated in her supporting affidavits that were filed on Jan 16.

This effectively means that Syamsul refuses to pronounce the talak (divorce proclamation) on Puteri Sarah.

In relation to this, Akberdin asked the court to appoint a hakam (arbitrator) committee without having to go through conciliatory committee (jawatankuasa pendamai or JKP) to resolve shiqaq (conflict) as his client did not intend to pursue the marriage.

Akberdin's application was, however, dismissed by Syarie judge Justice Akmalludin Ilyas who agreed with Rushdan that there was no extraordinary circumstances that could warrant the conciliatory committee to be set aside.

In a conciliatory committee or JKP, a religious officer would be appointed as chairman.

Together with the chairman, two other persons would be appointed for the husband and the wife, as stated under Section 47(5) of the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territory) Act 1984.

Parties then informed the court that Puteri Sarah appointed her younger sister while Syamsul appointed his male cousin to represent them in the conciliatory committee.

If the conciliatory committee could not resolve the marital dispute or found that the marriage could not be saved, the Syariah Court will then appoint a hakam (arbitrator) committee from the close relatives of each side to determine the solution.

The court fixed April 10 for the committee to present its findings.

After the proceedings ended, Syamsul left the courtroom immediately without speaking to the press.

Puteri Sarah left the courtroom about 10 minutes after Syamsul.