Syariah judge Abdul Karim Wahab set the date after hearing submissions from lawyers for stay on paying the RM30 million.

Mahmud Bekir’s lawyer Saaidah Din claimed during submission that her client should be granted the stay on the RM30 million because he could not afford to pay such a large amount at short notice.

“On March 10, the court ordered him to pay a total of RM30 million to his ex-wife in three instalments with each amounting RM10 million, starting at the end of March,” she noted. “It’s short notice for him to pay RM10 million by the end of this month.”

Mahmud Bekir has to borrow the money, she claimed. “This caused him to suffer losses.”

She argued that if no stay was granted, and their appeal against the decision was allowed with the quantum reduced, it would be difficult for Mahmud Bekir to get back the money.

“She (Shahnaz) told the media that one-third of the ‘mutaah’ would be for charity.

“It will be hard for us to get back money that has been donated.”

Shahnaz’s lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader said the other side had failed to show special circumstances in asking for a stay on the RM30 million. “They only filed one notice of appeal and then asked for a stay on paying.”

He added: “They don’t have enough reasons to ask for a stay.”

Shahnaz, the sister of songbird Sheila Majid, was awarded RM30 million on March 10 as mutaah from her ex-husband after Judge Abdul Karim ruled that based on his (Bekir’s) financial capability, he can pay the sum to her.

Shahnaz and Bekir, who married on Jan 9, 1992, have a son, Raden Murya, who was born on Dec 11, 1993.

They were divorced on May 11, 2011 after being separated for 11 years.