Three in 10 couples set on divorce changed their minds after counselling, says Family’s Ministry sec-gen

Government data from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development shows that counselling is making tiny but significant improvements in keeping married couples together. — Unsplash pic

First Published: Thursday, 22 Oct 2026 8:59 AM MYT

Last Modified: Thursday, 22 Oct 2026 9:00 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Thirty per cent of couples who intended to divorce reconciled after undergoing family counselling sessions managed by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN).

Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) secretary-general Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff said the achievement demonstrated that counselling could help couples better understand domestic conflicts and reconsider their decision to separate.

“Although the rate may seem small, it is a significant achievement for us, considering that the initiative only began last year,” she said while appearing as a guest on the Kasih Lensa Keluarga podcast produced by Bernama TV at Wisma Bernama yesterday.

She said poor communication between husbands and wives was among the main causes of domestic conflict.

Counselling sessions provide a space for couples to manage their emotions, communicate openly and reassess the impact of their conflicts on their marriage and their children’s future.

“Sometimes, the root cause of a dispute is not particularly significant, yet it affects the emotions of both parties. When a couple sits down to discuss matters calmly, they can see the bigger picture regarding the future of their family and marriage,” she said.

Maziah said KPWKM would continue to improve family intervention services based on findings and experiences from existing programmes.

She said efforts to strengthen the family institution were central to the National Family Compassion Policy (DKKN) 2026-2030, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Feb 14.

The policy translates the National Social Policy into efforts to address increasingly complex family challenges and social issues.

“DKKN is based on five core Kasih values, namely Affection (Kasih Sayang), Trust (Amanah), Health (Sihat), Knowledge (Ilmu) and Harmony (Harmoni). It also encompasses five strategic thrusts involving the marriage institution, family planning, parenting quality, inclusive family support and conflict management,” she said.

Commenting on modern parenting challenges, Maziah said children were influenced not only by their home environment but also by digital technology, social media, schools and peers.

“In the past, a well-behaved child would simply stay at home. Today, however, a child alone in their room is not necessarily safe from outside influences because of smartphones,” she said.

She said strengthening the family institution required cooperation among the government, communities and schools, rather than placing the entire responsibility on parents.

Meanwhile, she invited the public to attend the National Family Day celebration in Shah Alam on Nov 6 and 7, which will feature various family-related programmes and exhibitions. — Bernama

* Editor’s note: LPPKN stands for Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara, or the National Population and Family Development Board.

KPWKM stands for Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, or the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

DKKN stands for Dasar Kasih Keluarga Negara, or the National Family Compassion Policy.