Malaysian artiste Bella Astillah has filed for divorce from her Singaporean husband Aliff Aziz.
Speaking to reporters outside the Syariah Lower Court in Kuala Lumpur today (March 13), Bella, 29, said the divorce was the best way to resolve her marital conflict with Aliff, 33.
The singer, whose real name is Dayang Ara Nabellah Awang Astillah, added that she is adamant on ending her marriage with Aliff this time as she had already given him plenty of opportunities to salvage their relationship.
Bella and Aliff, who share two children, divorced in 2019 after he was accused of cheating on her but reconciled in 2020.
“This is the best path for me and Aliff. I just want everything to go smoothly, considering that we are in the month of Ramadan now. I’m determined (to continue with the divorce) as I have already given him lots of chances,” she said.
According to syarie lawyer Azmi Mohd Rais, who represented Bella, Aliff had agreed with the singer’s decision to divorce and was set to attend proceedings today.
However, the Singaporean actor was unable to do so as he had a filming schedule. The hearing has since been adjourned to April 4.
Bella’s divorce application comes days after Aliff was nabbed by religious authorities for suspected khalwat (close proximity).
Officials from the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) arrested him and local actress Ruhainies on the early morning of March 9 after they were seen together at a condominium in KL.
Aliff, who married Bella in 2016, apologised for the incident in an Instagram Story on March 10 and said he will issue a statement to explain what really happened to avoid further misunderstandings.
Ruhainies, 31, also made a similar statement on Instagram and urged the public to stop speculating as many reports on the matter contained misinformation.
Aliff has been embroiled in a string of controversies over the past years.
In 2019, he was charged for stealing S$300 (RM1,055) and one million rupiah (RM300) from Indonesian actress Raja Yunika Perdhana Putri.
He also pleaded guilty to public indecency in 2020 after unzipping his fly near Orchard Tower in his home country Singapore.