Syamsul, Puteri Sarah not divorcing today

KUALA LUMPUR - In a surprising turn of events, 'Mat Kilau' film director Syamsul Yusof did not divorce his wife actress Puteri Sarah today.

During the divorce proceedings at the Lower Syariah Court here before Syarie Judge Akmaluddin Ilyas, Syariah lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader representing Puteri Sarah said the efforts to solve their marriage on good terms was unsuccessful.

Akberdin said Syamsul or his full name Mohd Shamsul Md Yusof and Puteri Sarah Liyana Megat Kamaruddin had discussed the divorce terms, but they could not reach an agreement.

"My client wants to continue the divorce proceedings by reading the reconciliation committee (JKP) report," he said.

However, Syariah lawyer Azmi Mohd Rais representing Syamsul said the efforts to solve this case on good terms were unsuccessful after the agreement draft prepared by them in the previous proceedings was amended by Sarah.

He said there were several changes in the agreement draft made by Sarah and among them was to continue the civil suit towards Faghira Fatini or also known as Ira Kazar and her family.

"Sarah also demanded a high dowry on several other assets my client didn't agree to," he said.

Azmi said the plaintiff only wanted to tell the sequence of events and not disclose detailed information.

Syamsul's lawyer had objected for the JKP report to be read in the proceedings.

He said the JKP session which took place on March 24 was not handled welll as the discussion was done separately.

"The JKP representatives must meet and discuss it at least as well as try to persuade the couple to reconcile.

"I suggest the JKP session to be repeated to achieve an agreement on good terms," he said.

Akberdin argued on the point that the JKP proceedings were flawed and said the defendant's lawyer could not make any speculations on the matter.

"Neither of us were present during the JKP proceedings so the plaintiff can't conclude the JKP session was flawed," he said.

The court set May 25th to call the JKP chairman to provide a statement regarding the JKP proceedings.

For the record Syamsul and Sarah married each other on March 8, 2014 and have two children Syaikhul Islam, 6, and Sumayyah, 4.

The celebrity couple's marital issues were reportedly started four years ago, but the son to Datuk Yusof Haslam had never spoke on the matter.

On Jan 6, Syamsul vowed to put a stop to the mystery of his relationship with Ira Kazar when he admitted he married her in Thailand.

Sarah starred in the 'Lu Pikirlah Sendiri de Movie' then filed a divorce application on Jan 16, 2023, through Messrs Akberdin & Co.

Among the reasons were there being a lack of understanding and prolonged shiqaq (actions causing harm towards wife) and no longer being able to live together as a husband and wife according to syariah law.

On March 7 following Syamsul's refusal to divorce Sarah the court ordered them to appoint a JKP representative.

The court then set the proceedings to Tuesday 9 (today) for Syamsul to divorce Sarah on good terms following Section 47 of the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territory) Act 1984.

However, on April 10, the court informed the pair had reached an agreement to divorce on good terms.

It was based on settlement terms agreed to including hadanah, child support, mutaah, nusyuz and marital property.