'Indai Blues' - Unfair to Say That Unfaithful Wives as the Main Cause of Divorce (English Text)

Media Statement by Chiew Chin Sing, Chairman DAP Bintulu Branch , DAP Sarawak Deputy Chairman and Sarawak State Assemblyman for Kidurong on 23rdOctober, 2009.

State Assemblyman for Kidurong said that it is unfair to say that the main cause of divorce was unfaithful wives in the case of the ‘Indai Blues’.

In the marriage of the ‘Indai Blues’ case who could stand the partner being away for several years without seeing each other. This is putting too much stress and tension on the wives and I am sure it could be the same on the husband too.

Although the husband sends back a lot of the money which he has earned but if the money is not managed wisely, it would be gone in no time. I believe that the money have to be jointly managed and both must be equally responsibly on how to spend it or managed it for the good of the family.

That is why it is important that the couple must open up two accounts for the money earned by the husband, one for the monthly expense of the home while the rest of the money go into a joint saving account, this way when the husband returns home the money is still there for them to enjoy and use together with the children. Perhaps then the spoilt wives issue could be avoided.

But it is not easy at all these days not to be big spender, when tempters and temptations is every where, in fact, so much of the emphasis of life style is about look good, feel good, where every corner you turn there is the lure, the advertisements, the TV.

That is why it is important also that the husbands have to come back for a short holiday from their work, at least once or twice a year, to see their wives and the children. We human all have needs, and even animal have theirs, and it is important that the needs be mutually met in the marriage and family.

I know many companies are including a yearly holiday ticket for their return and back to work, some are allowing the more senior staffs to return half yearly. This leave must be taken and cannot be substituted by payment.

I would like to call on the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation to look into this unhealthy family development urgently before the matter gets worse and harm our family unit in the modernization of our society.

I urge that the government set up counseling units for those couples where the husband is going away for a long time, to prepare them and the families for their times ahead to help keep the family unit of our society in tact.

Presently there could be no less than 50 thousands of our man of all races and many are from Bintulu, working overseas. The foreign exchange they earn deserve our concern and care for their family.

Chiew Chin Sing.
23.10.2009