In 2014 Malaysia released the alarming statistic that a divorce was happening every 10 minutes. Now Sinar Harian reports that divorce among the elderly Muslims of Terengganu has been on the rise for the last 5 years.
The increase came to notice after the number of couples aged 60 and over attending marriage counseling increased at the Terengganu Religious Affairs Department (JHEAT). One might conclude that although the win-loss ratio may not be in their favor, they are incredibly effective at getting to the bottom of marital discord.
Global studies in silver year divorces have observed that couples find themselves with empty nests, and the children that often held them together, now have lives of their own. Kuala Terengganu JHEAT officer, Mohd Ariffin Jusoh, agrees with this. One of the most common problems he finds is that most couples wait until their children have grown up until seeking a dissolution of the marriage.
Unfortunately, although divorce among the Malay community has risen 2.3 times between 2004 and 2014, many rural, poor women are still finding it hard to seek a divorce from unhappy unions. Lack of financial independence keeps them bound to the monetary assistance from their husbands.
Young women, remember how important your financial independence is. Also this.
