28TH MAY 2012

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, MONDAY, 28TH MAY. - Today the Attorney General's Chambers held a Workshop on the implementation of Islamic Family (Amendment) Order 2010 held at the Golden Jubilee Hall, The Law and Courts Building Attorney General's Chambers.

Present as the Guest of Honour for the opening ceremony for the said workshop is the Attorney General, YB Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Hayati binti POKSDSP Haji Mohd Salleh who then formally officiated the workshop. This workshop is one of the initiatives of the Attorney General's Chambers as one of the project in line with its vision in its Strategic Plan 2010-2017 which is to provide excellent quality legal service.

The objective of this 2 days workshop from the 28th to the 29th May 2012, is to reach its target towards the efficient and smooth implementation of the of Islamic Family (Amendment), Order 2010 and also to assist in any shortcomings which have been encountered by the enforcement agencies and any other relevant agencies so that the main objective of the amendment 2010 which is to provide full protection for any victims of domestic violence is successfully achieved. According to YB Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Hayati binti POKSDSP Haji Mohd Salleh, the role of Attorney General's Chambers in organising this workshop is to facilitate and advise the relevant agencies who plays an important role in the implementation of this order, she also emphasised that this workshop is not to meddle with the process in the Syariah Court and definitely not to influence the Court's decisions so as to maintain the court's independence from the influence of the Executives parties to ensure an esteemed Justice System that will be fully trusted by the general public.

The Women and Children Abused Investigation Unit have recorded 275 cases in the year 2010, 241 cases in the year 2011 and 53 cases recorded as to April of this year, while only 12 cases have been registered at the Syariah Court under the application for protection for "dharar syarie". According to YB Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Hayati, the provisions under the Islamic Family Order is not exclusive to women and children but also includes other victims of domestic abuse defined under the term "family members" under section 60A of the said Order. Therefore, it is expected there will be an increase in the number of application for the protection of "dharar syarie" in the future. As many as 95 participants which are made up of Officers of the Women and Children Abused Investigation Unit, Religious Affairs Department, Syariah Legal Unit, Community Development Department, Syariah Court, Ministry of Health and the Attorney General's Chambers are participating in this 2 days workshop.