Ministry mulls mandatory prenuptial courses for non-Muslims

 

Aiman Athirah Sabu said the proposed committee to study the mandatory premarriage courses for non-Muslims will make the recommendations before a decision is taken.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking at the feasibility of having premarriage courses for non-Muslim couples, the Dewan Negara was told today.

Deputy women, family and community development minister Aiman Athirah Sabu said the ministry was in the process of drafting a proposal paper to establish a committee to study its feasibility.

She said the committee would propose suitable programmes to be presented to the Cabinet in the near future for a final decision.

Aiman said this when winding up the debate session on the motion of thanks for the royal address in the Dewan Negara.

She was replying to Senator Aknan Ehtook, who proposed that non-Muslim couples undergo a pre-marriage course before tying the knot.

Meanwhile, commenting on the lack of officers and staff from the social welfare department (JKM) at temporary relief centres during the recent floods in several states, Aiman said the department had taken steps to address this issue through community empowerment.

“JKM had taken the initiative to appoint community leaders, heads of local agencies, school principals, head teachers and other community volunteers as supervisors, committee members and staff at relief centres.” - FMT