Innovation in the Enforcement of Child Support Orders Post-Divorce in Interfaith Marriages: A Comparative Study of Indonesia and Malaysia

Yustri, Ermida
Erman, Edi
Ikromi, Zul

Islam Transformatif : Journal of Islamic Studies
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2025): July-December 2025

Abstract Divorce in interfaith marriages presents distinct challenges in the enforcement of child maintenance orders, particularly when religious differences between parents affect the rights of the child after divorce. In Indonesia and Malaysia, differences in legal systems and regulations governing post-divorce child maintenance have given rise to various innovations in the enforcement of such rulings. In Indonesia, the main challenge lies in the dualism of the judicial system, which separates religious courts from civil courts. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, despite its pluralistic legal framework, problems more often arise in cases involving a child who is Muslim while the father is non-Muslim. This article examines a comparative analysis between the two countries in terms of legal innovations and the enforcement of child maintenance orders following divorce in interfaith marriages, with a particular focus on the role and practice of the Bahagian Sokongan Keluarga (BSK) in Malaysia. Through a comparative approach, this study highlights the similarities and differences in legal enforcement mechanisms and provides recommendations to enhance the protection of children’s rights in post-divorce child maintenance cases.   Abstrak Perceraian dalam perkawinan beda agama memunculkan tantangan tersendiri dalam pelaksanaan putusan nafkah anak, terutama ketika perbedaan agama antara orang tua mempengaruhi hak-hak anak pasca perceraian. Di Indonesia dan Malaysia, perbedaan sistem hukum dan peraturan yang mengatur nafkah anak pasca perceraian memperlihatkan adanya inovasi dalam penegakan putusan nafkah tersebut. Di Indonesia, tantangan utama terletak pada dualisme sistem peradilan yang terpisah antara pengadilan agama dan pengadilan negeri, sedangkan di Malaysia, meskipun terdapat pluralitas hukum, masalah lebih sering muncul dalam penyelesaian kasus yang melibatkan anak yang beragama Islam, sementara ayahnya adalah non-Muslim. Artikel ini membahas perbandingan kedua negara dalam hal inovasi hukum dan penegakan putusan nafkah anak pasca perceraian dalam perkawinan beda agama, serta fokus pada praktik Bahagian Sokongan Keluarga (BSK) di Malaysia. Melalui pendekatan komparatif, artikel ini menyoroti kesamaan dan perbedaan dalam penegakan hukum serta memberi rekomendasi untuk meningkatkan perlindungan hak-hak anak dalam kasus nafkah pasca perceraian.