Muslim women must know their rights to avoid injustice in marriage - CM's wife

Juliah (front, centre) with participants of the Forum Wanita Madani: Women's Rights in Marriage under Syariah Law, held at the Federal Government Administrative Complex Auditorium in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday.
KOTA KINABALU (June 18): Muslim women must strengthen their understanding of their rights within marriage under Syariah law to avoid becoming victims of injustice, particularly in cases of abuse, divorce, or denial of financial support and matrimonial property.
Wife of the Chief Minister and President of MUTIARA GRS, Datin Seri Panglima Juliah Salag, said many women are unaware of their legal and religious entitlements, which often puts them at a disadvantage.
'Many women do not realise they have rights concerning maintenance, matrimonial property, protection from abuse and fairness in divorce. This lack of awareness makes them more vulnerable,' she said when officiating the Forum Wanita Madani: Women's Rights in Marriage under Syariah Law at the Federal Government Administrative Complex Auditorium here on Wednesday.
Juliah also addressed the misconception that Islam oppresses women, stressing that Islam in fact uplifts women's dignity and recognises their crucial role in society.
'Islam does not discriminate between men and women in terms of responsibilities or rewards. Women are equally important in building families and developing civilisation,' she said.
Highlighting the vital role of women in the family structure, Juliah described mothers as the first educators of children, shaping the moral foundation of society.
'When women understand their rights, they not only protect themselves but also raise morally upright generations and build stronger families,' she said, calling for more attention to be given to women's well-being due to its direct impact on social and national stability.
Juliah praised the forum organisers for providing an essential platform to share knowledge, experiences and legal guidance.
'This effort is significant as many women are still unclear about critical processes such as marriage registration, divorce procedures, child custody and property management after divorce,' she said, expressing hope for more frequent forums and outreach programmes to reach women at the grassroots level.
The forum featured three panellists: Senior Assistant Director of JAKIM Sabah's Strategic Communication Unit, Noordianah Alwi; Family Counselling Officer at the Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS), Siti Hajar Makmud; and President of the Sabah Syariah Lawyers Association, Abdul Razak Jamil.
Noordianah addressed women's rights and responsibilities in monogamous and polygamous marriages under Islam. Siti Hajar focused on marital counselling services offered by JHEAINS, highlighting common issues and available support.
Abdul Razak's session, titled Challenges and Realities: Issues of Marriage and Divorce for Women in Sabah from a Syariah Legal Perspective, drew the most engagement, with many attendees asking questions. He responded by referencing real-life cases previously heard in the Syariah Court.
In his closing remarks, Razak highlighted recurring issues, particularly those stemming from undocumented customary marriages conducted before 1992. He noted that clear guidelines requiring Islamic family law governance for all Muslim marriages were only introduced after that year.
According to JHEAINS statistics, Kota Kinabalu recorded the highest number of divorce cases in 2024, followed by Sandakan, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Tuaran.
Programme director Nurzimah Bongoh said the forum was designed not only to raise awareness but to empower women with legal literacy, giving them the courage and confidence to make informed and dignified decisions within their marriages.

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