KUALA LUMPUR: The wife of actor and director Datuk Afdlin Shauki, Datin Maria Christina Orow Abdullah, has revealed that the couple have split since April.
Maria took to social media to deliver the shocking news after completing the three-month edah period.
"Afdlin and I have made the decision to end our marriage during Ramadan, just a few months shy of our 25th anniversary.
"The decision was swiftly made because it could not be avoided any longer. However, we do not see this as a reflection or destruction on our relationship.
"So, we have announced this matter after I have completed the duration of edah," she wrote online.
Maria added that the two had decided on the divorce after their relationship became problematic during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"During the pandemic period, our lives changed. When we tried to return to normalcy this year and there were also other issues that cropped up, we found that there was no way to mend it back.
"And with that, we decided to go our own separate ways.
"We are still parents to our kids. We will continue to support and love each other as a family," she said.
Aside from being a pillar to their three children, Maria added that the two would still remain as creative partners in order to build their business together.
"We have agreed that this separation need not be hurtful or an ending, instead it will enable us to continue with our private lives even though we are no longer living together.
"I know that Afdlin will continue to support me as a friend and I will also do the same in supporting his life.
"We hope that family and friends who were unaware of this, will not be saddened. Please accept this news are a regular matter that others have gone through as well.
"We hope that the privacy of our family and kids will be respected," she said.
Afdlin and Maria tied the knot in 1997 and are blessed with three children, Mia Sara, Anais and Ileana Matin.