Terengganu Faces Potential Social Crisis As Divorce Cases Surge - Assemblyman

KUALA TERENGGANU, April 21 (Bernama) -- A sharp rise in divorce cases in Terengganu is being seen as an early warning of a social crisis that requires urgent and comprehensive action, said Ladang state assemblyman Zuraida Mohd Noor.

She said 2025 recorded 3,810 divorce cases, up from 2,798 in 2024 and 1,802 in 2023, the highest in seven years.

Data from the Syariah Judiciary Department Malaysia also placed Terengganu among the eight states with the highest number of cases in the first nine months of last year.

“This is not just statistics, but a warning of a social crisis. Most cases involve young couples married for less than 10 years, due to economic pressure, poor communication and emotional instability,” she said when debating the Royal Address at the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly sitting at Wisma Darul Iman here today.

Zuraida proposed four strategic measures, including strengthening economic stability through job and entrepreneurship opportunities, and making financial management education compulsory before marriage.

She also called for improvements to pre-marriage courses with more practical modules, addressing third-party interference in marriages, and strengthening intervention on social issues, especially drug addiction.

At the same time, she stressed that divorce is not necessarily a failure, but a last resort when a marriage can no longer be sustained.

She said 296 domestic violence cases were reported in Terengganu in 2025, with conflicts and drug influence among the main causes.

On cancer among women, Zuraida said cases rose by 40 per cent over five years, from 1,464 in 2021 to 2,004 in 2025, based on data from Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital(HSNZ).

“Common cancers include breast, colorectal, uterine, leukaemia and ovarian cancers. Obesity is a key contributing factor, in line with findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey.

“The situation is worrying, with 76 per cent of the population classified as obese, while one in three teenagers is also facing weight issues,” she said.

She urged three measures: stricter school food nutrition standards, practical healthy eating education, and wider awareness on the link between obesity and cancer risk among women.

-- BERNAMA