Terengganu offers free honeymoons to couples bent on divorce

The headline itself was interesting but on further reading I was most perplexed by the sentence “but it is unacceptable for those married for more than two decades to file for divorce”. Why is it unacceptable? The fact that being married for such a long time is not a guarantee of a happy ever after ending. The long period together in a marriage is just that. A long period.

I'm sure the couple had tried on their own accord to find solutions to their problems and if divorce is the best solution, so be it. No amount of counseling or free honeymoons would save that marriage. We can only wish and hope that the couple will go through the divorce process in a civil manner with as little recrimination between both parties.

Que sera sera.

The full report in the online edition of the Star of 12 October 2009:

T’ganu offers free honeymoons to couples bent on divorce
By R S N MURALI

KUALA TERENGGANU:
A free second honeymoon trip awaits any Terengganu married couple on the brink of breakup. The state will pay for it.
However, the honeymoon package comes with some counselling.
The aim is to bring peace between feuding couples and check the reportedly soaring divorce rates in the state.
The honeymoon packages would be launched by the end of the year after specific modules were incorporated that would to help husband and wife to turn back to each and stay married, said State Welfare, Community Development and Women Affairs committee chairman Ashaari Idris on Monday.
The programme would be jointly implemented by the state government and the Family and Community Development Council.
He said the state done a pilot project where 25 couples facing marital woes were selected for the honeymoon package. They spend three days and two nights away from home at a cost of under RM1,500 per couple.
The outcome was positive, he said without giving details as to the number of marriages saved. When the love between couples starts to turn sour, normal counselling would be provided. But only those on the brink of separation or divorce would be offered the second honeymoon, Ashaari said.
Some of the marriages that had now hit the rocks have actually lasted up to two decades, he said.
“We can understand newly-weds having problems understanding one another where a slight skirmish could lead to a separation but it is unacceptable for those married for more than two decades to file for divorce.
“With this package, we hope the couples will treasure their marital ties and avoid separations,” he added.