I was at the Marriage and Divorce Registration Department in Ipoh this afternoon. I wanted to get some copies of Reconciliatory Tribunal forms to be kept in my office. The lady officer told me that there were many divorce cases in the department and on Friday alone, the number could reach nine cases.

I have been getting calls from women, both local and foreign who were facing breakdown in their marriages. I must say, recently, most of the cases, according to the frustrated wives, the crisis in their marriage was due to third party “interference”. The husbands were having another affair.

The case I attended yesterday, involved a marriage for more than 10 years and 4 children.

According to the wife, the husband said he would not want any of the children and if she wants divorce, she has to engage a lawyer to file the application. As such, the wife did not have much hope that the husband would agree to give her and the children maintenance. Just imagine, the husband is still so “brave” to continue with his external affairs lifestyle! In short, continue to commit adultery.

However, the wife blamed herself. She said that she should not have allowed the husband the “freedom” to work out of the country. I explained to her that she was not the cause of the breakdown of the marriage.

I told her the weaknesses of the law in this aspect in giving protection to women.

Today, a foreign wife told me that her husband no longer want to take care of her. She has been here for more than 10 years. She is an Indonesian. Her travelling documents will expire this coming October. For foreign wife, the Malaysian man needs to sign on some documents for her stay in this country. A sum of money is also required to be placed at the Immigration as bond.

Usually, the process of permanent resident takes time. I have a case whereby the foreign wife has been here for more than 17 years, until to date the authority has yet to approve her application.

Back to the foreign wife. She has left everything back in her country to be with this Malaysian man. Now she is just left alone in this country without any relatives. I told her, even if there is one who is willing to pay the bond or be guarantor for her, it would be difficult for her to survive her. She could not work.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs needs to pay serious attention to these cases. It is happening rampantly. We, women need to be treated fairly and also, protection of law.