After over a year of legal battle to save their marriage, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar is officially divorced from Raja Ahmad Shahrir Iskandar Raja Salim today.

 

The surprising turn happened when Raja Ahmad Shahrir pronounced ‘ talak’ (proclamation of divorce) at the Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court.

 

Today’s hearing was fixed for custody of the children, but Raja Ahmad Shahrir agreed and proclaimed talak satu after discussions for about an hour between the two parties.

 

Syariah High Court Judge Mohd Amran Mat Zain recorded the affirmation of divorce at 4:17pm.

 

Last month, it was reported that the two-term Lembah Pantai MP requested for a review of the findings of the conciliatory committee for the couple's divorce proceeding.

 

She also appointed a hakam (arbitrator) for what seemed to be the second stage of the proceedings.

 

Following conciliatory committee findings

In December 2013, the popular young politician and daughter of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim filed for divorce before the Lower Syariah Court, citing irreconcilable differences.

 

The couple had undergone counselling sessions and had twice appeared before the conciliatory committee, before both parties finally reached the decision to end their marriage.

 

Amran also recorded the agreement between Nurul Izzah and Raja Ahmad Shahir for joint custody of their two children.

This follows Nurul filing a separate hadanah (child custody) application, besides the divorce.

 

The couple has a seven-year-old daughter and a five year-old son.

 

Previously, it was reported that Raja Ahmad Shahir did not want to utter talak as he said he still loved Nurul Izzah and their children.

 

Lawyer Normawaddah Ramli acted for Nurul Izzah while Azmi Md Rais represented Raja Ahmad Shahir.

Terms of the divorce

When contacted, Nurul Izzah’s lawyer Azmi revealed that besides joint custody, his client agreed not to claim matrimonial assets and divorce compensation.

 

Both agreed that if either were to marry again, the other party can apply for custody of the children based on Section 82 and 83 of the Islamic Family Law Act.

 

Raja Ahmad Shahrir also agreed to pay RM1500 per month for the maintenance of their two children.

 

All terms were recorded before the judge.