Close to four in 10 Muslim couples near divorce stay together after counselling

Mandatory programme has made a difference: Masagos

- Syarafana Shafeeq

Close to 40 per cent of more than 15,300 Muslim couples who were contemplating divorce in the period from 2019 to 2023 decided to stay together after attending a mandatory marriage counselling programme.

And a study found that 80 per cent of people who attended the programme said they benefited from it and were more aware of their personal traits or behavioural traits that impacted their marriage.

These are among positive trends in the overall dissolution rates for Muslim marriages, which have been on the decline over the years, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli on Feb 20.

A total of 1,200 Muslim couples divorced in 2023, down from 1,505 in 2022 and 1,767 in 2021.

These are significant developments, as keeping families intact will shield children from the long-term destabilising effect that divorce can have on them, Mr Masagos said.