The right of children to express their views in all matters affecting their lives is regarded as one of the important factors that concern their welfare. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and social science research support children's right to participate in family law proceedings, particularly in decisions of custody disputes, though there is no clear consensus on how this should be done. Many jurisdictions such as Australia and England incorporate several measures in their legislations in ensuring the meaningful involvement of children in family dispute resolution processes. The laws in Malaysia similarly uphold this right but do not provide specific measures to obtain the views of children. This paper seeks to discuss the importance of the child’s participation in the context of custody disputes and to examine the measures in which the views of children can be obtained. In doing so, it attempts to provide an overview of the current laws and the approach of the Civil and the Shariah courts in Malaysia in considering the views of children in custody disputes. For purposes of comparison, it briefly examines the legislations and the court practices in Australia and England on this matter. The purpose is to determine the best measure to be adopted by Malaysia and to propose statutory and non-statutory changes to ensure that children in Malaysia are given the right to have their voices heard in family law proceedings.
This paper examines the existing legal framework for the protection of teenage pregnancies in Malaysia, with adherence to the international laws of the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC) and the United Nation Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and within the principles of the Islamic laws (maqasid al-Shariah). This study was conducted primarily through a doctrinal study of existing literature such as articles, journals and reports related to the current issues encountered by pregnant teenagers. This study establishes the ongoing reforms in the domestic laws and policies in response to the ratification of UNCRC and CEDAW since 1995. Nonetheless, the absence of a comprehensive legal framework and coordinated support services for pregnant teenagers affects the smooth implementation of the currently existing laws and policies on this matter. Therefore, it is recommended that a more comprehensive legal framework and concerted services help to promote a holistic approach to strengthen the welfare of pregnant teenagers and safeguard them from unnecessary harm.
Mediation or sulh at the Malaysian Shariah Court deals with a variety of issues relating to Islamic family law including the child custody issues. Disputes that exist between the parties can be resolved through litigation (court) and non-litigation (outside the court). Sulh is one of the non-litigation methods in settling disputes in peace and harmony. The Government initiative by introducing sulh since 2001 helps in reducing the backlog of cases, speeds up settlement of dispute and it has become a very constructive method of resolving disputes amicably. This article aims to discuss and analyse the principles of sulh in Islamic Law, its foundations and its implementation in Malaysia particularly in child custody disputes. The article also will look at how sulh interacts with the new implementation of the Special Court of Hadanah established in the Shariah Court of Federal Territories (MSWP). The methodology adopted, is library-based research to collect information, data and theories involved, from selected materials including journal articles, textbooks, statutes, as well as interview method. The data were analysed using the content analysis method. The study concludes that the practice of sulh in the child custody disputes is not only in line with the Islamic Law but also plays a vital role in protecting the children’s rights as outlined by the intent of the Divine Guidance (Maqasid Shariah). Keywords: Sulh, mediation, Shariah court, child custody dispute, ADR. Abstrak Mediasi atau Sulh yang dilaksanakan di Mahkamah Syariah melibatkan pelbagai isu kekeluargaan termasuklan kes penjagaan kanak-kanak. Pertikaian yang terjadi diantara pihak-pihak dapat diselesaikan melalui dua kaedah iaitu perbicaraan (di dalam mahkamah) dan penyelesaian tanpa perbicaraan (luar mahkamah). Sulh adalah salah satu kaedah penyelesaian pertikaian secara damai dan harmoni yang dilakukan tanpa perbicaraan. Inisiatif Kerajaan memperkenalkan Sulh mulai tahun 2001 telah membantu mengurangkan lambakan kes di mahkamah, menyelesaikan kes dalam tempoh yang singkat dan ianya menjadi kaedah yang sangat konstruktif dalam menyelesaikan pertikaian secara damai tanpa sengketa. Tujuan kertas kerja ini disediakan adalah untuk membincangkan serta menganalisa kewujudan Sulh di dalam Undang-Undang Islam, melihat kepada asas serta pelaksanaan Sulh di Malaysia terutama dalam kes melibatkan pertikaian penjagaan kanak-kanak. Artikel ini juga meneliti bagaimana pelaksanaan Sulh membantu ke arah pelaksanaan Mahkamah Khas Hadhanah yang baharu ditubuhkan di Mahkamah Syariah Wilayah Persekutuan (MSWP). Metodologi yang dilaksanakan di dalam kertas kerja ini melibatkan kajian perpustakaan bagi mengumpulkan maklumat, data dan teori yang terlibat daripada bahan-bahan terpilih termasuklah jurnal artikel, buku teks, statut serta kaedah temubual. Data yang diperolehi kemudiannya dianalisa menggunakan kaedah analisa kandungan. Kajian ini menyimpulkan bahawa amalan Sulh melibatkan pertikaian penjagaan kanak-kanak bukan sahaja selari dengan Undang-Undang Islam, namun Sulh juga berperanan penting dalam melindungi hak kanak-kanak seperti yang digariskan oleh Maqasid Syariah. Kata Kunci: Sulh, mediasi, mahkamaah Syariah, pertikaian penjagaan kanak-kanak, ADR.
The paper aims to discuss the application of the laws and the general understanding of cross-border marriages among Muslims in Malaysia. This socio-legal research used quantitative method and legal doctrinal research. The data have been obtained through the survey with 400 respondents, who have been practising cross-border marriage.The data have been analyzed using Statistical Packages Social Sciences(SPSS) version 22. Research shows that the practice of cross-border marriage among Muslims in Malaysia is caused by the lack of knowledge of those who have been practising cross-border marriages as well as the weaknesses of the implementation of the law. Apart from that, lack of enforcement agencies in Malaysia causes injustice for the parties especially women and children. This vulnerable parties will suffer in terms of social and legal effects. This article is a preamble to a more extensive study of the cross-border marriage which the findings will be useful for further enhancement of the current legal provisions in Malaysia. Contribution/ Originality: This study contributes in the existing literature about the understanding and protection to related parties of marriage especially the wives and children born to the marriage. The understanding will help in protecting themselves when they are in or outside the situation; i.e. it could assist them to survive through or to evade it. Thus, it is believed that this study could assist in solving such problems and conflicts that had not been resolved until this day. Golok, in Rantau Panjang. 2 Those who prefer to use the sea, there are boat and ferry services from Kuala Perlis to 1 Ibid.
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