PUTRAJAYA: All state religious departments must now register divorce cases within a day after decisions have been made by the syariah courts.

Islamic Development Department director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said there should be no delay in the registration of divorce cases by the departments.

The decision was made during a conference of the state Islamic religious directors in Kuantan on Tuesday.

All states are required to abide by the decision in an effort to streamline Islamic rules and reduce bureaucracy.

Previously, state Islamic religious departments took weeks to register the cases.
Wan Mohamad said that the conference also agreed to expedite the process of allowing Muslims to get married.

Those undergoing the two-day pre-marriage courses would be issued with certificates on the last day of the courses, unlike in the past where they had to wait for at least a week to get the certificates.

Wan Mohamad said the decisions were made following numerous complaints from the public on the delay in getting the necessary approvals from religious departments.

On another matter, he said Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne Abdullah, wife of the prime minister, was expected to launch the Saudara Baru (converts) programme to be held at the Federal Territory Mosque on Aug 9.