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PUTRAJAYA – The accounts of Tabung Haji (TH) depositors who fail to pay nafkah (alimony) to their ex-wives and children should be frozen, said chief syarie judge Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
The judge said this would ensure all prospective pilgrims who deposit in the fund are debt-free.
He said the Syariah Judiciary Department would hold a meeting with Lembaga Tabung Haji next week to discuss the matter.
“These people (depositors) need to pay their alimony debts before fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam. This method can help unjust ex-husbands to be debt-free, as it involves the debts of those close to him (ex-wife and children).
“We want to make sure that they perform the haj as debt-free servants of God,” he said at a press conference on the issue of hiwalah (debt transfer) and alimony with the dissolution of marriage here today.
Na’im said the proposal comes following the government’s announcement with regard to the freezing of bank accounts of those who fail to pay alimony to their ex-wives.
The government had reportedly decided to impose the penalty in the best interests of women, especially those who had been divorced by their husbands.
Na’im said the department was also planning to meet with Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) to make a similar proposal.
“After meeting TH, we will meet with PNB to propose to freeze the shares of any individual who fails to pay alimony to his ex-wife and children,” he said. – Bernama, March 25, 2022