Domestic problems impact national development - former mufti

Ismail who is former chief justice of the Syariah Court in Terengganu said efforts should not focus on women only but should also be for the men so that both parties know their rights and responsibilities in marriage.

"What is happening now is both of them (husband and wife) do not know or understand their responsibilities towards their children, especially when divorce happens.

"When they get divorced, the victims are the children. They will become a problem to the country because if they are not well brought up, they will contribute to social problems in society," he told reporters at the end of the forum on 'Empowering Women, Empowering Malaysia' organised by the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) here Wednesday.

"The government also has to support convicts in prison using public money which should have been used for national development.

"Society also looks down on them when they are released from prison. All these negative sentiments are the result of the parent's divorce," he said.

The forum, organised by diploma students of the institute, was also attended by director of the Asia Women Circle (ACW) Abir Abdul Rahim and Community Development Officer in the Guidance and Counselling Division, Department of Women Development, Ajanis Anak Ba-I.

Also present was IDFR director-general Datuk Mohamad Sadik Kethergany.