Court upholds RM30m alimony payment for Bekir's ex-wife

KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court's decision for the payment of Mutaah at RM30 million by Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib to his former wife Shahnaz Abdul Majid.
The appellate court also unanimously rejected Shahnaz's cross-appeal to increase the Mutaah quantum to RM100 million.
Judge Saarani Ismail, in reading the verdict, said there was no error in the Syariah High Court's judgment.
A three-man panel, chaired by Syariah judge Datuk Yusof Musa, made the decision after dismissing cross-appeals by both Mahmud Abu Bekir, 55, and Shahnaz, 55.
The other judge on the panel was Datuk Dr Mohd Naim Mokhtar.
Lawyers acting for Mahmud objected to Shahnaz's request for a lump sum payment, stating that the High Court's ruled for the payments to be made in stages.
The appellate court ruled that the payments are to be made in three stages starting from Oct 31 with the next payment by or on Jan 31, 2019, and final payment by or on April 30.
Mahmud had appealed against the excessive RM30 million 'mutaah' award originally handed down on March 10, 2016, by Syariah High Court judge Abdul Karim Wahab to his former wife.
Mahmud is the son of former Sarawak Chief Minister and current governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
'Mutaah' originates from the Arabic word 'al-Mataa' meaning things which may delight the heart and can be put to good use.
It is a Syariah practice that dates back centuries in the peacemaking between the parties from animosity in a divorce.
Syariah lawyers Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar and Saadiah Din appeared for Mahmud while Mohd Rafie Mohd Shafie and Datuk Akberdin Haji Abdul Kader acted for Shahnaz.