SINGAPORE, Oct 6 — Singapore has introduced proposed amendments to its Muslim law framework that would give the Syariah Court broader powers over divorce proceedings and child-related matters, while streamlining certain aspects of the divorce process for Muslim couples.
According to CNA, the Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Bill was tabled for its first reading in Parliament today by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). The ministry said the changes are aimed at reducing unnecessary conflict and administrative hurdles in family disputes, allowing affected families to focus on recovery and healing.
Among the key proposals is a simplified process for couples seeking a divorce through talak tafwidh, a form of divorce in which a husband delegates the right to pronounce divorce to his wife. Under current rules, parties must first appoint a hakam, or marital conciliator, before proceedings can move forward.
If the amendments are passed, the Syariah Court would be able to waive that requirement in cases where both parties agree to end the marriage and have settled all related issues. MCCY said the change could shorten proceedings by at least six months and save each party S$172 in fees.
The proposed legislation would also allow the court to dispense with the requirement for sworn testimony from two witnesses in suitable fasakh applications, which involve the annulment of a Muslim marriage due to harm or breaches of marital obligations.
According to MCCY, the requirement may be waived where grounds for divorce can be established through alternative evidence, such as documents, or where obtaining witnesses would cause undue difficulty. The court would still need to be satisfied that the grounds for divorce are valid under Muslim law.
The bill would further strengthen the court's role in matters involving children, including decisions relating to custody and relocation, providing greater clarity over its powers in such cases. Separately, the proposed amendments would introduce a minimum residency requirement for certain foreigners seeking to marry in Singapore and place the Singapore College of Islamic Studies on a statutory footing. The changes follow a public consultation and are expected to be debated in Parliament at a later date.
