Couples intending to marry must attend 'SmartStart' course

The 'SmartStart' course which has all this while been attended on a voluntary basis by couples from all races who intended to get married, will be made compulsory before the end of next year.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the ministry was now in the process of discussing the matter with various parties including the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and other religious institutions.

"The course is aimed at preventing marital break-ups," she told reporters after officiating at the commemoration of the International Day Against Violence Against Women 2014, here, on Tuesday.

"The course module has been implemented by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) since May 2003 for all races to provide newly married couples or those intending to marry soon with the knowledge and skills required in married life.

"The ministry is confident that with couples attending the SmartStart course, marital problems can be reduced," she said.

Rohani said the course focused on various marital and parenting aspects, besides providing psychosocial support to couples experiencing married life so that they would have a blissful marriage.

She also said that police records showed 3,673 reported cases of domestic violence so far this year, an increase of 43.6 per cent from 2,558 cases last year.

"This shows increasing awareness among women to come forward to report if they are victims of domestic violence," she added.