The Shariah High Court today awarded Shahnaz Abdul Majid RM30 million in muta’ah (conciliatory payment) in her divorce from Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Abdul Taib. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, March 10, 2016.The Shariah High Court today awarded Shahnaz Abdul Majid RM30 million in muta’ah (conciliatory payment) in her trial against Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Abdul Taib.
Judge Muhammad Abdul Karim Wahab who said the RM100 million Shahnaz was asking for was excessive, added that he felt that RM30 million would help her deal with the sadness after being left by her husband.
On May 11, 2011, the Shariah High Court confirmed the divorce between Mahmud and Shahnaz.
The couple were married on January 9, 1992 and have a son, Raden Murya Abdul Taib Mahmud, 23.
The RM100 million conciliatory payment suit by Shahnaz, who is the elder sister of singer Datuk Sheila Majid, had attracted attention as it was expected to expose former Sarawak chief minister Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud's wealth.
The judge today ordered Bekir to pay the sum in three instalments at RM10 million each for every three months by the end of March, June and September this year.
The judge said the fact that Shahnaz was left alone for 10 years, during which time the defendant was said to have had other women and even remarried, was unforgiveable.
“She was the legal wife during at the material time.
“She had to deal with sadness and loneliness,” Karim said.
The judge added that the house and three cars given to Shahnaz did not amount to muta’ah, but said the RM100 million claim was unreasonable.
He said the court looked at what the defendant could afford although there was no specific rate to follow.
“In light of evidence that he spent RM1 million just like that in one instance, the court is awarding RM30 million to the plaintiff.”
One of the arguments put up by Bekir’s legal team was that a witness, accountant Andrew Heng, had valued his wealth without actually stepping into any of the oil palm plantation he owned.
The judge today accepted the defence team’s argument, adding that they did not take the opportunity to rebut holes in Heng’s evidence.
“The court did not think the evidence was very strong, the report on the valuation is based on assumption.
“But the defence did not rebut the holes in his evidence.”
Bekir’s lawyer, Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, said he disagreed with the judge’s comment that the defence did not rebut Heng’s evidence.
Zainul Rijal said they were very disappointed with the decision and would be filing an appeal tomorrow.
“We are very disappointed with the decision.
“We will be appealing the decision that she is entitled to the muta’ah and the quantum.” – March 10, 2016.
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