KEDUDUKAN NAFKAH SEBAGAI HUTANG MENURUT HUKUM SYARAK DAN UNDANG-UNDANG KELUARGA ISLAM: ANALISIS PENGUATKUASAAN OLEH BAHAGIAN SOKONGAN KELUARGA DI MALAYSIA

The enforcement of maintenance orders remains one of the major challenges within Malaysia’s Islamic family law system, particularly when the party against whom the order is issued fails to comply with court directives. In addressing this issue, the Family Support Division (Bahagian Sokongan Keluarga, BSK) was established as an institutional mechanism to assist in the implementation and monitoring of maintenance orders issued by the Syariah Courts. This article aims to examine the obligation of maintenance according to Islamic law (hukum syarak) and Islamic family law in Malaysia. It also discusses the procedures relating to the enforcement of maintenance orders by the Syariah Courts, with a specific focus on the role of the Family Support Division (BSK), as well as identifying the challenges faced by this agency in carrying out its functions. This study adopts a qualitative approach, focusing on library-based research through the analysis of legal documents, Syariah Court practice directions, case law, and previous scholarly writings. The findings indicate that the establishment of the BSK has had a positive impact in improving compliance with maintenance orders, particularly through its functions of providing interim assistance, facilitating negotiation, and conducting continuous monitoring of maintenance debtors. Nevertheless, the study also finds that various constraints persist, including limitations in enforcement powers, recurring non-compliance, procedural delays, and the socio-economic factors affecting the parties involved. The article proposes improvements in terms of strengthening legal powers, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and increasing public awareness to ensure that the maintenance rights of wives and children are more effectively and sustainably protected.

Penguatkuasaan perintah nafkah merupakan antara cabaran utama dalam sistem perundangan keluarga Islam di Malaysia, khususnya apabila pihak yang diperintahkan gagal mematuhi arahan mahkamah. Bagi menangani isu ini, Bahagian Sokongan Keluarga (BSK) telah ditubuhkan sebagai mekanisme institusi bagi membantu pelaksanaan dan pemantauan perintah nafkah yang dikeluarkan oleh Mahkamah Syariah. Artikel ini bertujuan mengkaji tanggungjawab nafkah menurut hukum syarak dan undang-undang keluarga Islam di Malaysia Ia juga membincangkan prosedur berkaitan penguatkuasaan perintah nafkah oleh mahkamah syariah dengan memfokuskan kepada perananan Bahagian Sokongan Keluarga (BSK), serta mengenal pasti cabaran yang dihadapi agensi ini dalam pelaksanaannya. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif yang memfokuskan kepada kajian kepustakaan melalui analisis dokumen perundangan, arahan amalan Mahkamah Syariah serta kajian kes dan penulisan terdahulu. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa kewujudan BSK telah memberi impak positif dalam meningkatkan kadar pematuhan perintah nafkah, terutamanya melalui fungsi bantuan interim, rundingan, dan pemantauan berterusan terhadap penghutang nafkah. Namun demikian, kajian ini juga mendapati wujud pelbagai kekangan termasuk keterbatasan kuasa penguatkuasaan, isu ketidakpatuhan berulang, kelewatan proses, serta faktor sosioekonomi pihak yang terlibat. Artikel ini mencadangkan penambahbaikan dari segi pengukuhan kuasa perundangan, penyelarasan antara agensi, serta peningkatan kesedaran masyarakat bagi memastikan hak nafkah isteri dan anak dapat dilindungi secara lebih berkesan dan berterusan.