Sulh (reconciliation) in the Syariah Court: step by step

1What sulh is

Sulh means reconciliation — a settlement reached by negotiation between the parties in dispute. The Quran says that reconciliation is better (Surah an-Nisa' 4:128), and directs that arbiters be sent from the husband's family and the wife's family when a breach between them is feared (Surah an-Nisa' 4:35).

In the Syariah Court, sulh is a formal stage: the parties negotiate before a sulh officer, and if they agree, the agreement becomes a court order.

2The legal basis

• Sulh boleh diadakan pada mana-mana peringkat prosiding untuk menyelesaikan pertikaian, mengikut kaedah yang ditetapkan atau, jika tiada kaedah, mengikut Hukum Syarak — Akta Tatacara Mal Mahkamah Syariah (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1998 (Akta 585) s.99.
• Penghakiman persetujuan — termasuk sulh — boleh direkodkan oleh mahkamah pada bila-bila masa (Akta 585 s.131).
• Akta 585 terpakai di Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya dan Labuan). Setiap negeri mempunyai enakmen tatacara mal mahkamah syariah sendiri dengan peruntukan serupa — sila semak peraturan terkini di Mahkamah Syariah negeri anda.

3Cases commonly taken to sulh

Family civil claims that are commonly negotiated include:

• maintenance for the wife, iddah maintenance and child maintenance, including arrears;
• hadhanah (custody) and children's visiting schedules;
• harta sepencarian (matrimonial property);
• mut'ah and unpaid mas kahwin.

Not every dispute is suitable for sulh, and some matters need a judge's decision. The sulh officer or the court will decide what can be negotiated in your case.

4Step by step

1. File a claim at the Syariah Court that has jurisdiction.
2. Sulh notice — the court fixes a date for the Majlis Sulh and serves notice on the parties.
3. Attend the Majlis Sulh — the session is chaired by a sulh officer, who helps both sides discuss the issues in an orderly way.
4. Negotiation — each side states its claims and offers; several sessions may be needed.
5. Settlement agreement — if all or some of the issues are agreed, the terms are written down and signed.
6. Direkodkan sebagai perintah — perjanjian dibawa kepada hakim untuk direkodkan sebagai penghakiman persetujuan (Akta 585 s.131), dan ia boleh dikuatkuasakan seperti perintah mahkamah yang lain.

5If sulh fails

If there is no agreement, or only some issues are agreed, the outstanding matters go on to trial. The judge will hear the evidence and decide according to the law and Hukum Syarak. A failed sulh does not affect your right to pursue your claim.

6Sulh, the conciliatory committee and hakam compared

• Sulh — negotiation before a sulh officer in civil proceedings (maintenance, custody, property and so on). The result is an agreement recorded as an order.
• Jawatankuasa pendamai — dalam permohonan cerai, jika pihak satu lagi tidak bersetuju atau ada kemungkinan berdamai, mahkamah melantik jawatankuasa yang dipengerusikan seorang Pegawai Agama dengan seorang wakil bagi suami dan seorang bagi isteri, sebaik-baiknya kerabat terdekat (Akta 303 s.47(5)–(6)). Jawatankuasa berusaha mendamaikan dalam tempoh enam bulan atau tempoh lanjutan yang dibenarkan mahkamah (s.47(9)). Peguam syarie tidak boleh hadir di hadapan jawatankuasa, dan pihak tidak boleh diwakili selain oleh ahli keluarga tanpa kebenaran jawatankuasa (s.47(12)).
• Hakam — jika mahkamah berpuas hati berlaku pertengkaran berterusan (syiqaq), ia boleh melantik dua hakam, seorang bagi suami dan seorang bagi isteri (Akta 303 s.48(1)). Jika diberi kuasa penuh oleh pihak masing-masing, hakam boleh melafazkan satu talak di hadapan mahkamah dengan kebenaran mahkamah (s.48(5)).

Seksyen-seksyen di atas ialah bagi Wilayah Persekutuan; enakmen negeri mempunyai peruntukan yang serupa dengan nombor seksyen yang mungkin berbeza.

7Preparing for the Majlis Sulh

• Documents: marriage or divorce certificate, children's birth certificates, payslips, bank statements and evidence of the children's expenses.
• List of claims: the amounts you are asking for and why — for example the cost of the children's schooling and medical care.
• Think about alternatives: payment schedules, sharing of costs, or visiting schedules you could accept.
• Manners: speak calmly and respectfully; keep the focus on the children's interests.
• Read every term of the agreement before signing. If in doubt, ask for time or get advice from a Syarie lawyer.

8JKSM practice directions on sulh

The Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia (JKSM) has issued practice directions that govern the sulh process, including:

• JKSM Practice Direction No. 5 of 2015 — service of sulh notices by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt (A.R.).
• JKSM Practice Direction No. 7 of 2015 — standardising the sulh work process and flow chart in the state Syariah Judiciary Departments and Syariah Courts throughout Malaysia.
• JKSM Practice Direction No. 6 of 2020 — priority fast-track endorsement of settlement agreements successfully reached through the Majlis Sulh.
• JKSM Practice Direction No. 5 of 2024 — settlement or consent agreements made by the parties, Syarie lawyers and sulh officers or mediators need not be referred to the Majlis Sulh at the early stage.

Whether a practice direction applies depends on its adoption by each state — please check with your state Syariah Court.

Sources & references