The husband pronounced talaq in Thailand or Saudi Arabia — must it be confirmed in Malaysia?

Yes. A talaq or divorce order abroad must be registered or confirmed at the Syariah Court in Malaysia before you can remarry in Malaysia, and the ʿiddah is counted from the date of the actual talaq. For marriages registered in Malaysia, a talaq pronounced in Thailand must be confirmed and registered at the state Syariah Court. In the Philippines, the talaq must be notified (PD 1083 Art. 161) and then confirmed in Malaysia. In Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the talaq must be documented within 15 days there — keep the documents. Claims for maintenance, mutʿah (consolatory gift) and harta sepencarian are easier to make in the country where the husband has assets; foreign court orders are not necessarily enforceable automatically. See cross-border marriage.