PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Bar has expressed concern over rising divorce cases in the country, saying that the trend should not be seen as a commercial opportunity for lawyers but as a growing social challenge with long-term consequences for families and children.
Responding to the latest marriage, divorce and reconciliation statistics released by the Statistics Department (DOSM), Bar president Datuk Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab said while marriages recorded a marginal increase of 0.9% in 2024, divorces rose by 4.1%, with reconciliation cases continuing to decline.
“The legal profession does not view the growth of family disputes as increased commercial opportunity. Rather, the Bar reiterates that lawyers carry a duty to help minimise conflict, uphold fairness and guide clients towards outcomes that protect children and preserve dignity.
“Our responsibility is to play a constructive role in restoring balance in the family unit and supporting families during difficult transitions,” he said in a statement yesterday.
On Nov 20, DOSM revealed that Malaysia registered 190,304 marriages and 60,457 divorces in 2024, according to its Marriage, Divorce and Rujuk Statistics 2025.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said divorces in 2024 increased by 4.1% to 60,457 from 58,095 in 2023, with the Crude Divorce Rate (CDR) rising to 1.8 from 1.7 per thousand population.
Mohamad Ezri said these patterns point to mounting pressures within Malaysian families that require thoughtful attention and sustained policy intervention.
In light of the statistics, the Bar proposed a series of institutional reforms to strengthen the family justice ecosystem.
Among the key recommendations is making family mediation a mandatory first step before litigation, except in cases involving safety or abuse concerns.
Early mediation, it said, could reduce emotional and financial strain while promoting more stable arrangements for children.
The Bar also called for the introduction of a collaborative family practice framework, similar to those adopted in other Commonwealth jurisdictions such as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, where parties commit to resolving disputes without adversarial court proceedings.
