PETALING JAYA - "Honestly, I am heartbroken over the divorce, but it is for the best," said Gol & Gincu actress Fazura after their divorce proceedings concluded at the Petaling Syariah Lower Court in Subang Bestari, today.
Fazura, whose real name is Nur Fazura Sharifuddin, 41, stated that the decision to divorce partly stemmed from Fattah’s failure to provide financial support for her and their daughter, Nur Fatima, 4, throughout their marriage.
"As a wife, I cannot be happy with this divorce. This decision was not made lightly. I suffered for years, and I have thought long and hard. I now accept Allah’s will," she said tearfully.
The actress said that she had earlier kept quiet to protect both her dignity and that of her ex-husband’s, but she felt compelled to speak out after various speculations arose.
"The first reason for the divorce is that Fattah has long neglected his financial obligations to me and our daughter. Secondly, we no longer share mutual understanding and I have been unhappy for a long time. My emotions are affected and I am mentally stressed, but I endured everything; all the slander, accusations, and insults thrown at me," she said.
"I had hoped that my husband would step forward and defend me, but he never did. The third reason is something that I can no longer accept; Fattah’s infidelity," Fazura added, though she declined to disclose further details about the allegation.
She said she pitied her daughter Nur Fatima, and it was upsetting that neither her daughter nor Fazura herself had ever received "duit raya" from Fattah throughout their marriage.
Fazura also shared her disappointment that her ex-husband had not made a genuine effort to reconcile during the two months they were living apart.
"We’ve been living apart for two months. During that time, I had hoped that he would persuade me to reconcile. Not just sending WhatsApp messages saying 'good morning,' 'good night,' and 'I'm sorry.' I was hoping he would come to the house, even if I was angry or upset.
"As a wife, sometimes we may be angry, but I truly hoped that he would make a sincere effort to win me back, not just through WhatsApp. My heart was broken and I prayed to Allah for him (Fattah) to make a genuine effort to reconcile with me. I am speaking the truth, and Allah hears me. He knows I’m not lying. I'm not just saying this to save myself," she said.
Meanwhile, Fattah Amin, whose real name is Abdul Fattah Mohd Amin, 34, and who had pronounced a talak satu divorce on Fazura in front of Syariah Judge Abdul Malik Soleh. Fattah said he accepted the qada' and qadar (divine decree) and still cared for Fazura as someone who had been part of his life.
"I accepted my jodoh (marriage match) with Fazura, but Allah had decreed that our union would not last. I accept it and I wish her the best," Fattah said.
When asked by reporters whether he would continue to persuade Fazura to reconcile to save their marriage, Fattah responded, "Reconciliation won't work if it’s one-sided. No matter how much effort we put in, it won’t work, unless there is effort from both sides."
Fattah added that what he regretted most about the divorce was the impact on his daughter, Nur Fatima, as she should not have been in the situation.
"Fatima shouldn’t have to experience this at the age of four. I regret it and feel sorry for her. I am deeply saddened because when I see her, she looks so happy to be with me, and she wants me to come home. She wants her mommy and daddy to be together.
"I had to lie to her and say that I had to leave the house for work. She cried and did not want to let me go. She fell asleep in my arms. That’s what I regret the most - having to lie to my daughter, telling her I was going to work," he said, emotionally, adding that custody of the child would be given to Fazura, and both parties had agreed to it.
Fattah also denied that infidelity was one of the reasons for their divorce, Fattah said the reason was the lack of mutual understanding, and they had both agreed not to expose each other’s faults. The actor also denied claims that he had failed to provide financial support for four years. - BERNAMA