Date: 18 June 2026
PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10 YEARS OF TELENISA FINDINGS HIGHLIGHT PERSISTENT BARRIERS TO JUSTICE FACED BY MUSLIM WOMEN
SIS Forum (Malaysia) launches 10 Years of Telenisa (2016–2025) and Telenisa Statistics and Findings 2025, highlighting 10 years of findings on Muslim women’s experiences in accessing justice and navigating Islamic family law
Petaling Jaya, 18 June 2026 — SIS Forum (Malaysia) today launched 10 Years of Telenisa (2016–2025) together with the Telenisa Statistics and Findings 2025 publication, marking 10 years of published findings documenting the experiences of Muslim women navigating the Syariah legal system and highlighting areas where legal, policy and institutional reforms remain necessary.
The launch brought together policymakers, legal practitioners, researchers, civil society representatives and members of the public to reflect on findings gathered through Telenisa, SIS Forum (Malaysia)’s free legal advice service. The event was officiated by YB Nurul Syazwani Noh, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Permatang, and featured special remarks by YB Teresa Kok, Member of Parliament for Seputeh, alongside representatives from Yayasan Sime Darby and SIS Forum (Malaysia).
Officiating the launch, YB Nurul Syazwani Noh said:
“The experiences documented through Telenisa over the past 10 years provide valuable insights into the realities faced by many women and families. Evidence-based discussions such as these are important in strengthening policies, improving institutional responses and ensuring that access to justice remains at the centre of efforts to support family well-being and social development.”
She added that the findings contribute meaningfully to ongoing conversations on improving legal and institutional frameworks affecting women and children.
Established in 2003, Telenisa provides legal information, guidance and referrals to Muslim women facing issues related to marriage, divorce, maintenance, child custody, domestic violence and other matters under Islamic family law. Since 2016, SIS Forum (Malaysia) has systematically documented Telenisa enquiries, producing annual statistics and findings publications that provide valuable insight into the realities faced by women seeking justice through the Syariah legal system.
The findings gathered over the past 10 years reveal recurring patterns that point not only to individual disputes but also to broader structural and institutional challenges affecting access to justice. Among the issues most frequently raised through Telenisa are difficulties in obtaining and enforcing maintenance orders, delays and procedural barriers in court processes, inconsistencies in the implementation of Islamic family law across states, limited awareness of legal rights and remedies, and the continuing impact of domestic violence and financial insecurity.
Speaking at the launch, Rozana Isa, Executive Director of SIS Forum (Malaysia), said the findings demonstrate that many of the challenges experienced by Muslim women are not isolated incidents but recurring issues requiring sustained policy attention.
“Ten years of Telenisa data tell a consistent story. Women continue to face barriers in obtaining maintenance, navigating court processes and securing effective remedies. These findings are not merely statistics; they represent lived experiences that have been documented year after year. When the same issues continue to emerge across 10 years of evidence and are reflected in broader national findings, they must be taken seriously in efforts to improve policy, practice and institutional accountability.”
The Telenisa service has been supported by Yayasan Sime Dardy over the past 10 years, enabling SIS Forum (Malaysia) to continue providing legal information, guidance and referrals to Muslim women seeking assistance on matters related to Islamic family law. This long standing partnership has contributed to the documentation of women’s experiences and the generation of evidence needed to inform legal reform, public policy and institutional improvements.
Dr. Hjh. Yatela Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Sime Darby, said:
“Access to justice is not only a legal issue, but closely linked to the well-being, safety and dignity of women, children and families. Yayasan Sime Darby is proud to have supported the Telenisa Legal Clinic since 2016, with a commitment of more than RM2.5 million to ensure free legal advice continues to reach those who need it most. Over the past decade, Telenisa has assisted more than 4,500 individuals, reached over 50,000 people through awareness and community outreach programmes, and trained more than 230 chambering students who will contribute to the future of Malaysia’s legal profession.”
“Beyond direct assistance, Telenisa has become an important evidence-based advocacy platform. By documenting real experiences and recurring challenges faced by women, these publications provide valuable insights to support public discourse, policy discussions and continued improvements in the Syariah legal system and access to justice.
Importantly, many of the issues identified through Telenisa over the past 10 years mirror concerns that have also been recognised through government data, parliamentary discussions and official studies relating to family well-being, maintenance enforcement, domestic violence and access to justice. The consistency of these findings reinforces the value of Telenisa as a source of evidence and highlights the importance of ensuring that women’s lived experiences are taken into consideration in ongoing policy development, institutional improvements and legal reform efforts.
One of the most significant issues highlighted through Telenisa remains maintenance and financial support. Women frequently report difficulties in obtaining maintenance orders, enforcing existing orders and securing financial support for their children following divorce. These challenges often leave women and children vulnerable to prolonged financial hardship and highlight the need for stronger mechanisms to ensure compliance with court orders. The findings also reinforce longstanding calls for more effective and coordinated approaches to maintenance enforcement.
The recommendations contained in 10 Years of Telenisa (2016–2025) are grounded in 10 years of empirical evidence and practical experience assisting women across Malaysia. They call for reforms aimed at strengthening access to justice, improving maintenance enforcement, enhancing legal literacy and information, strengthening institutional accountability, and ensuring that the administration of Islamic family law better fulfils its objectives of justice, fairness and the protection of family welfare.
The launch also featured presentations on the findings from 10 Years of Telenisa (2016–2025) and Telenisa Statistics and Findings 2025, followed by a forum discussion titled “10 Years of Telenisa Publications: Empowering Access to Justice and Reforming Islamic Family Law in Malaysia”, which explored pathways towards more responsive and effective systems of support for women and families.
As Malaysia continues to address issues relating to family well-being, economic security and access to justice, the Telenisa publications provide an important resource for policymakers, religious authorities, legal practitioners and civil society organisations seeking evidence-based approaches to reform.
About Telenisa
Telenisa is SIS Forum (Malaysia)’s free legal advice service established in 2003 to provide legal information, guidance and referrals to Muslim women. Through its helpline and legal clinics, Telenisa assists women navigating issues relating to Islamic family law and serves as an important source of evidence on the challenges women face in accessing justice.
About SIS Forum (Malaysia)
SIS Forum (Malaysia) is a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting justice, equality and dignity within Islam and advancing the rights of Muslim women through research, public education, advocacy and legal support services.
Media Contact
Ameena Siddiqi
Communications Manager
SIS Forum (Malaysia)
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +6 012-380 1049 | Tel: +603 7960 5121 | Fax: +603 7960 8737
No.4, Lorong 11/8E, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA
Note: Attached media brief
MEDIA BRIEF
TEN YEARS OF TELENISA FINDINGS HIGHLIGHT PERSISTENT BARRIERS TO JUSTICE FACED BY MUSLIM WOMEN
Analysis of 4,761 clients over ten years highlights recurring challenges in maintenance enforcement, domestic violence, access to remedies and the implementation of rights under Islamic family law.
WHY THIS MATTERS
For more than two decades, Telenisa has provided legal information, advice and support to Muslim women navigating the Syariah legal system.
Established in 2003 by SIS Forum (Malaysia), Telenisa was created to assist women seeking guidance on matters relating to marriage, divorce, maintenance, domestic violence, child custody and other family law issues. Over time, it has become more than a legal advice service. It has developed into an important source of evidence on how laws, policies and institutions are experienced in practice by those seeking justice.
The launch of Ten Years of Telenisa (2016–2025) together with Telenisa Statistics and Findings 2025 marks the first comprehensive review of ten years of published Telenisa findings.
Drawing on the experiences of 4,761 clients, the findings reveal recurring challenges that continue to affect Muslim women and their families. The data demonstrates that many of the difficulties women encounter stem not from an absence of legal rights, but from barriers in implementation, enforcement, accountability and access to effective remedies.
The findings provide one of the most extensive evidence-based Muslim women’s experiences navigating the Syariah legal system and offer important insights for policymakers, legal practitioners, researchers and institutions working to strengthen access to justice.
The findings also reflect concerns raised by government agencies, legal practitioners and researchers regarding maintenance enforcement, domestic violence, family breakdown, economic vulnerability and access to remedies. As such, they should be considered an important source of evidence in ongoing discussions on legal, policy and institutional reform.
KEY FINDINGS FROM TEN YEARS OF DATA (2016–2025)
1. Child Maintenance Remains One of the Most Persistent Justice Challenges Faced by Women and Children
Maintenance-related disputes continue to feature prominently throughout Telenisa’s case data.
Child maintenance arrears recorded the highest number of child-related cases, while maintenance failures remain among the most frequently reported concerns. Many women continue to experience difficulties enforcing court orders and securing regular payments despite obtaining legal judgments in their favour.
For women and children, maintenance is not merely a legal issue. It directly affects financial security, housing, education and overall well-being.
The findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen mechanisms that ensure maintenance orders are effectively enforced and complied with.
2. Domestic Violence Continues to Affect Women’s Safety, Dignity and Access to Justice
Domestic violence remains one of the leading concerns reported through Telenisa.
The data demonstrates that violence extends beyond physical abuse. Psychological violence, emotional abuse, social control and economic harm continue to feature prominently in women’s experiences.
Domestic violence frequently intersects with maintenance disputes, divorce proceedings and child-related matters, creating multiple barriers for women seeking protection and justice.
The persistence of these patterns over ten years highlights the need for stronger institutional responses that prioritise survivor safety, accountability and access to remedies.
3. Women Continue to Face Barriers in Realising Rights Recognised Under the Law
One of the clearest findings emerging from ten years of data is the gap between legal rights and lived realities.
Whether in relation to maintenance, protection from violence, matrimonial property, custody or other family law matters, many women continue to face practical obstacles in obtaining remedies and enforcing decisions.
The findings suggest that access to justice depends not only on the existence of rights, but also on whether institutions are able to deliver timely, effective and meaningful outcomes.
4. Economic Vulnerability Shapes Women’s Access to Justice
More than three-quarters of Telenisa clients earned below RM1,000 per month.
Many sought legal advice and information before pursuing legal action, highlighting the importance of accessible legal support services for women facing financial hardship.
The findings show that economic vulnerability often compounds existing challenges, limiting women’s ability to pursue claims, secure representation and navigate legal processes.
5. Delays, Inconsistencies and Procedural Barriers Continue to Affect Outcomes
The data recorded hundreds of pending cases, including matters that remained unresolved for extended periods.
Recurring concerns relating to delays, procedural barriers and inconsistent experiences suggest that outcomes are often influenced by how laws are implemented and administered in practice.
The findings point to the importance of strengthening accountability, efficiency, transparency and consistency within the administration of Islamic family law.
WHAT THE 2025 FINDINGS SHOW
The latest findings demonstrate that the issues identified over the past ten years remain highly relevant today.
Telenisa recorded 561 clients in 2025 compared to 188 clients in 2024, reflecting a significant increase in demand for assistance.
More than three-quarters of clients in 2025 were new clients, while women continued to account for more than nine in ten clients seeking assistance.
Domestic violence, communication breakdown and maintenance-related concerns remain among the most frequently reported issues, reinforcing patterns observed throughout the ten-year period.
WHAT THE DATA TELLS US
Ten years of Telenisa findings show that many of the challenges faced by Muslim women today are not new.
Maintenance failures, domestic violence, delays in obtaining remedies and barriers to justice continue to affect women and children despite existing legal protections.
Taken together, the findings suggest that many of the challenges identified stem not from an absence of legal rights, but from weaknesses in implementation, enforcement, accountability and access to justice.
The findings highlight the need for reforms that strengthen institutions, improve enforcement mechanisms and ensure that rights recognised under the law can be effectively realised in practice.
WHY TELENISA MATTERS
For more than twenty years, Telenisa has provided support to individuals navigating the Syariah legal system while documenting recurring patterns, emerging trends and barriers that might otherwise remain invisible.
The publication of ten years of findings demonstrates the value of placing women’s lived experiences at the centre of efforts to strengthen the administration of justice.
The evidence generated through Telenisa contributes to a deeper understanding of how laws and policies operate in practice and provides an important foundation for improving legal processes, institutional responses and access to justice for women, children and families.
KEY STATISTICS AT A GLANCE
Ten Years of Telenisa Data (2016–2025)
| Indicator | Finding |
|---|---|
| Total clients assisted | 4,761 |
| Women clients | 4,327 (90.9%) |
| New clients | 3,467 |
| Legal advice requests | 3,400 (71.5%) |
| Clients earning below RM1,000/month | 3,160 (66.4%) |
| Domestic violence cases | 1,658 |
| Pending cases | 415 |
| Child maintenance arrears cases | 633 |
| Child maintenance cases | 367 |
| Highest number of clients | Selangor (1,981) (41.61%) |
| Second highest number of clients | Kuala Lumpur (956) (20.08%) |
Telenisa 2025 Snapshot
| Indicator | Finding |
|---|---|
| Total clients assisted | 561 |
| Increase from 2024 | 66.5% |
| New clients | 428 (76.3%) |
| Returning clients | 133 (23.7%) |
| Women clients | More than 91% |
SIS FORUM (MALAYSIA)’S RECOMMENDATIONS
Establish a Child Support Agency and Strengthen Child Maintenance Enforcement
Ten years of Telenisa findings demonstrate that maintenance-related disputes remain among the most persistent challenges faced by women and children.
SIS Forum (Malaysia) calls for the establishment of a Child Support Agency (CSA), or an equivalent institutional mechanism, to strengthen the enforcement, monitoring and collection of child maintenance, improve compliance with court orders and reduce the financial hardship experienced by women and children.
Improve Access to Justice and Reduce Procedural Barriers
Women should be able to pursue claims and obtain remedies without facing unnecessary delays, procedural obstacles or financial hardship.
Greater investment in legal aid, legal representation and support services is needed, particularly for low-income women.
Strengthen Responses to Domestic Violence
Institutional responses should adopt survivor-centred approaches and recognise the full spectrum of violence experienced by women, including psychological, emotional, social and economic abuse.
Improve Accountability, Consistency and Harmonisation Across States
Access to justice should not depend on where a woman lives.
Greater consistency in procedures, implementation and administrative practices across states is necessary to ensure more equitable outcomes and reduce disparities in access to remedies.
MEDIA QUOTE
“Ten years of Telenisa findings show that many of the challenges women face today are not new. The persistence of maintenance failures, domestic violence, delays in obtaining remedies and barriers to justice highlights the need for stronger institutional responses and meaningful reform. These findings demonstrate that the challenge is not simply whether rights exist under the law, but whether those rights can be realised in practice. Women’s lived experiences must remain at the centre of efforts to strengthen access to justice and ensure that the administration of Islamic family law delivers fair and meaningful outcomes.”
Rozana Isa
Executive Director
SIS Forum (Malaysia)
ABOUT TELENISA
Telenisa is SIS Forum (Malaysia)’s free legal advice service established in 2003. Through its helpline, legal clinics and advisory services, Telenisa assists individuals seeking information and guidance on Islamic family law and related legal issues.
Over the past two decades, Telenisa has become an important source of evidence on the challenges faced by Muslim women seeking justice, contributing to advocacy, public education and reform efforts aimed at strengthening access to justice for women, children and families.
The publication of Ten Years of Telenisa (2016–2025) demonstrates the importance of documenting women’s lived realities and ensuring that their experiences inform efforts to improve laws, policies and institutions.
About SIS Forum (Malaysia)
SIS Forum (Malaysia) is a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting justice, equality and dignity within Islam and advancing the rights of Muslim women through research, public education, advocacy and legal support services.
Media Contact
Ameena Siddiqi
Communications Manager
SIS Forum (Malaysia)
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +6 012-380 1049 | Tel: +603 7960 5121 | Fax: +603 7960 8737
No.4, Lorong 11/8E, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA