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Malayan Law Journal Unreported/2012/Volume /Teoh Hock Soon v Chan Peng Yee - [2012] MLJU 71 - 18
January 2012
[2012] MLJU 71

Teoh Hock Soon v Chan Peng Yee

HIGH COURT (KUALA LUMPUR)
DATIN YEOH WEE SIAM JC
ORIGINATING SUMMONS NO 24-173-11/2011
18 January 2012
WH Kan (Jennifer John with him) (WH Kan)
Balwant Singh Sidhu (Balwant Singh Sidhu & Co)
DATIN YEOH WEE SIAM JC
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT
This is my judgment regarding the Originating Summons (enclosure 1) filed by the Plaintiff for Orders which
are summarised as follows:

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

The guardianship, custody, care and control of the children V, B and E ("the children");
The Plaintiff shall be responsible for the maintenance of the children;
The Defendant whether by herself, agent or worker and/or any party be prohibited, prevented
or restrained from removing the children from the jurisdiction of this Court or overseas without
the consent of this Court and without the knowledge of the Plaintiff;
That the children attend counseling sessions with a recognized / registered counselor;
The Defendant be given supervised access to the children pending the outcome of (paragraph
4) above;
The identities of the children be protected by the Court in the event that a Judgment is
published;
Costs in the cause;
Any other relief deemed fit by the Court.

BRIEF FACTS
The Plaintiff and the Defendant registered a civil marriage on 6.5.1995 but were subsequently divorced on
27.3.1998. The Plaintiff contended that the divorce was due to the Defendant being involved in an adulterous
affair with a third party almost immediately after the registration of the marriage (paragraphs 2 and 3 of the
Plaintiffs Affidavit).
On or about 1998 the Defendant approached the Plaintiff asking him to accept her back into his life after
being left by the third party. The Plaintiff agreed as he loved the Defendant although he was heart broken by
her adultery (paragraph 5 of Plaintiffs Affidavit).
The Plaintiff and the Defendant went through a Chinese customary marriage on or about 5.1.2000 ("the
customary marriage") (paragraph 7 of Plaintiffs Affidavit, and paragraph 14 of Defendant's Affidavit). The
customary marriage:

1)

entailed 2 grand wedding dinners and a Chinese customary tea ceremony (the photographs are
in exhibit THS-6 of the Plaintiff's Reply);

1i)

had a few hundred invitees including relatives and friends locally, from outstation and overseas,
who had attended the dinners which were held in Kuala Lumpur and the other dinner in Ipoh at
the Defendant's hometown (paragraph 8 of Plaintiff's Reply).

The costs and expenses of the wedding ceremony and the wedding dinners were borne by the Plaintiff
(paragraph 9 of Plaintiff's Reply).
The customary marriage was not registered under the Law Reform (Marriage & Divorce) Act 1976 ("the
LRA") at the material time or subsequently (paragraph 8 of Plaintiff's Affidavit and paragraph 14 of
Defendant's Affidavit).
Out of the union between the Plaintiff and the Defendant, 3 children were born, namely:

2
2
2

V, a girl aged 10 years;

B, aged 9 years; and
E, a boy aged 5 years.

The Plaintiff, Defendant and the children were residing at No. 34, Jalan Medang Serai, Bukit Bandaraya,
59100 Kuala Lumpur ("the residence") as at 2.11.2011 i.e. the date of filing of the Originating Summons.
The Plaintiff, Defendant and the children have lived together at the residence as a family unit since 2001
(paragraph 6 of Plaintiffs Affidavit).
On or about 1.11.2011 the Plaintiff and the children shifted out of the residence and moved to No. A-23A-3A,
Kiaramas Ayuria 9, Jalan Kiara 7, Bukit Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
The children are currently residing with the Plaintiff pursuant to the ex parte Interim Order of this Court dated
2.11.2011.
The Plaintiff is the Executive Director of Shencourt Sdn. Bhd. The Defendant is a contract retail Pharmacist
at Guardian Pharmacy.
V and B attend a Chinese school i.e. SJK(C) Kuen Cheng 2, Kuala Lumpur. E attends Kuen Cheng
Kindergarten.
The Defendant does not deny the Plaintiffs allegation that the Defendant has a married boyfriend named
Christopher Lian ("Christopher") who lives in Adelaide, Australia.
THE LAW
The Plaintiff applied for guardianship, custody, care and control of the 3 children under the following laws:

1)
1)

s 3, s 5, s 9, s 10, s 11 and s 19A of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1961 ("the GIA");
and
s 24(d) of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 ("the CJA") and s 27 of the Civil Law Act 1956
("the CLA").

Preliminary Objection ("the PO")

Mr. Balwant Singh, learned Counsel for the Defendant, raised a PO that the GIA does not apply to
illegitimate children, and therefore the matter has to be decided, not under s 24(d) of the CJA which merely
confers jurisdiction (and not power) on the Court, but under the Court's power under s 27 of the CLA.
The question now is, what is the law applicable to the guardianship and custody of illegitimate children?
On 27.1.2011 the Federal Court handed down a landmark decision in Sean O'Casev Patterson V. Chan
Hoonq Poh & Ors [2011] 3 CLJ 722 ("Sean O'Casev Patterson") where, inter alia, the Federal Court had to
decide on the question put before it, i.e. "Question 1: Whether the appellant father's (plaintiffs) consent
should be obtained to the registration of adoption of his son under The Registration of Adoptions Act 1952".
In the course of deciding Question 1, James Foong FCJ had to analyse and deduce step by step all previous
cases decided on whether the GIA applies to illegitimate children. He finally came to the conclusion that the
GIA applies to illegitimate children. I now quote some relevant excerpts from his Judgment:

"[24] Miss Foo, counsel for the plaintiff, argued that the plaintiffs consent should have been sought before the 5th
defendant approves the registration of J's adoption. She pointed out that under the Guardianship of Infants Act 1961
("GIA"), (which came into effect on 1 October 1999), the father and mother have the same rights and authority over the
child. This is conferred by s 5(1) of GIA which says:

In relation to the custody or upbringing of an infant or the administration of any property belonging to or held
in trust for an infant or the application of the income of any such property, a mother shall have the same
rights and authority as the law "as the law allows to a father, and the rights and authority of mother and father
shall be equal." (Prior to 1 October 1999, such rights and authority were only accorded to the mother).
[25] When such rights and authority are conferred upon the plaintiff as the natural father of J, then according
to Miss Foo the plaintiffs consent should be sought. Since this never took place, J's adoption is invalid.
[26] Mr. Ravi, counsel for the 2nd and 3rd defendants, however argued that GIA does not apply to an
illegitimate child. And this can be found in s 1(3) of the GIA as well as in a number of decided authorities.
[27] s 1(3) of the GIA reads:
Nothing in this Act shall apply in any State to persons professing the religion of Islam until this Act has been
adopted by a law made by the Legislature of that State; and any such law may provide that:
(a) Nothing in this Act which is contrary to the religion of Islam or the custom of the Malays shall apply to any
person under the age of eighteen years who professes the religion of Islam and whose father professes or
professed at the date of his death that religion or, in the case of an illegitimate child, whose mother so
professes or professed that religion.
[28] The issue here is not religion as both the plaintiff and the 1st defendant are non Muslims. The contention
is the legitimacy of J : if J is illegitimate, would GIA confer upon the plaintiff a parental right over J and, if so,
whether the plaintiffs consent was required for the purpose of J's adoption.
[29] It is not in dispute that J is illegitimate. When he was born, both the plaintiff and 1st defendant were not
married to each other. It was decided in Re Balasingam & Paravathy, Infants; Kannamah v. Palani [1970] 1
LNS 134, that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain an application by the natural mother for the custody of
her illegitimate child under GIA. The reason was there being no provision under this Act to provide for an
illegitimate child, and this "proposition is fortified by the respondent's arguments on the correct construction
of the words "father" and "mother" in ss.5 and 6. Furthermore, adopting the approach taken by Viscount
Simonds in Galloway v. Galloway it is safer to say that "infant" means legitimate infant unless there is some
repugnancy or inconsistency and not merely some violation of a moral obligation or of a probable intention
resulting from so interpreting the word. Accordingly, since none of the words "father" or "mother" or "infant"
can be construed to mean illegitimate infant or the de facto parents of illegitimate children, it must be
concluded that the Act does not apply to "illegitimate children".
[30] This proposition was followed in T v. O [1992] 1 LNS 45, a decision of the High Court where Shankar J
(as he then was) said:
Of course in a case where illegitimacy is clear, and there never was any question of a marriage either de
facto or dejure. I would respectfully agree with the court in Re Balasingam and Paravathy, but only to the
extent that the natural mother of an illegitimate child is the person in whom the parental rights and duties will
vest exclusively, in the absence of a court order.
[31] In another High Court case of Low Pak Houng v. Tan Kok Keong [1998] 1 CLJ Supp 357, Aziz J (as he
then was) viewed it in this manner:
Sub-section (2)(a) (formerly s. 1(2) does not prove that Parliament intended to change the law from what it
had been under the 1935 Ordinance (Guardianship of Infants Ordinance of the Straits Settlements). Certainly
it does not prove that Parliament intended that under section 5 of the 1961 Act the father of an illegitimate
child should be the guardian of the child. For that express words are necessary.
Neither ought the omission of the word 'lawful' from section 6 to be construed as denoting that Parliament
intended to effect a change in the law from what it had been under the 1935 Ordinance. As I said, the happy

circumstance of the presence of the word 'lawful' in section 6 of the Ordinance is an indication that section 5
also intended to refer to the father of a legitimate child. The omission of the word 'lawful' from section 6 in
the 1961 Act ought not be construed as denoting a change of intention. It is not safe to so construe. For such
radical change in the law, there must be express words to give effect to it.
I am therefore of the view that section 5 of the 1961 Act is intended to apply to a lawful father and that
accordingly the father of an illegitimate cannot claim guardianship under it.
[32] Similar ruling was also made in the case of Khor Liang Keow Iwn. Tee Ming Kook [1996] 2 CLJ 631, by
Zulkefli Makinudin JC (as he then was).
[33] There are however two High Court decisions which disagree with the above. They have ruled that GIA
applies to an illegitimate child. Their reasons are as follows:
[34] In Low Pek Nai v. Koh Chye Guan [1995] 2 CLJ 110, Hishamudin J (as he then was) contended that:
With greatest to the views of the learned judge in Re Balasingam, in the present case, I propose to adopt a
different view. Unlike the English Acts, our Act does refer to illegitimate children and such reference can be
found in the application section. Section 1(3) states:
The above provision, it will be noted, contemplates that the state legislature may provide for the Act to be
applicable to Muslim children regardless of whether the child is legitimate or illegitimate to the extent that
such an application is not contrary to Islamic law. Now, if this provision contemplates such an application as
regards to Muslim children, then, in my view, the Act must apply to children, generally legitimate or
illegitimate.
I, therefore, rule that the Act applies also to illegitimate children and that, in the present case, I have
jurisdiction to hear the application.
[35] The next is the decision by Jeffery Tan J (as he then was) in Sinnakaruppi Periakaruppan v. Bathumalai
Krishnan [2001] 2 CLJ 435 439. The following were his views:
Indeed, in the light of the latest amendments to the GIA (see Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Act 1999
effective 1 October 1999), and the substitution of the former s.5 by an altogether new s.5 providing for
equality of parental rights, there is less reason to doubt that the GIA in the present form does not apply to
illegitimate children. Presently, the position in England is that "the statutory provisions relating to orders for
custody of, and rights of assess to, a minor on the application of a mother or father apply in relation to as a
minor who is illegitimate as they apply in relation to a minor who is legitimate" (Halsbury's Law of England,
4th edn, para 548). Perhaps it would require further study, but Low Pek Nai v. Koh Chye Guan might have
fortuitously and correctly stated the law.
[36] As correctly observed in Re Balasingam (supra), there is a "remarkable absence of any reference to
illegitimate children other than in the above mentioned s.1(2)(a) (now changed to s.1(3) (a)." But then, one
cannot ignore the fact that this word "illegitimate" appears in s 1(3)(a) of GIA 1961. Undeniably, this word
here is used for the purpose of excluding all mothers who professes or professed the Islamic faith from the
benefits of the provisions of this Act. But why did Parliament single out an illegitimate child of a mother who
professes or professed the Islamic religion? If Parliament had intended this Act to apply only to a legitimate
child it could have kept silent on the issue of legitimacy in this section like in the remaining part of the Act.
There is no necessity to express this to cover an illegitimate child in s.1(3)(a). By specifically highlighting this
to say that "in the case of an illegitimate child" it must have been intended, in our opinion, to be a reminder,
not to exclude those who are illegitimate. Thus, this Act should apply to all children, legitimate as well as
illegitimate. Otherwise, we see no reason, why an illegitimate child is singled out for mention in s 1(3)(a)GIA.
[37] In Re Balasingam, the rationale for excluding an illegitimate child, despite the presence of the word
'illegitimate' in s.1(2)(a) (now s 1(3)(a)GIA 1961, was because the courts in England had interpreted the
English Guardianship Acts of a 'father' and 'mother" to be only those lawfully married; thus their child is
legitimate. And this was used in that case to support the proposition that it is the same in Malaysia. But this
approach plainly ignores the fact that we have in Malaysia our own GIA which contains s 1(3)(a). And this
provision specifically expresses "in the case of an illegitimate child".
We are of the view that there is no requirement for us to look further than this provision especially to section

5 of GIA, like what was done in Low Pak Houng v. Tan Kok Keong (supra) to decide on whether the GIA
includes or excludes an illegitimate child. We conclude that the wordings of s 1(3)(a) of the GIA is sufficient to
imply that this Act applies to an illegitimate child.".
Mr. Balwant submitted that when the Federal Court stated in the above case that the GIA applies to
illegitimate children, that statement is obiter dictum or per incuriam. With respect, I do not agree with Mr.
Balwant. In my view, that statement is part and parcel of the ratio decidendi of the case, and going by the
doctrine of stare decisis, the High Court is bound by it.
Even if it is conceded that that statement is obiter dictum or per incuriam, which I do not concede, my stand
is that this Court is not bound by the decisions in the above High Court cases which decided that the GIA
does not apply to illegitimate children. I am of the opinion that the intention of Parliament is clear when the
proposed amendment in section 5 of the GIA was debated in Parliament. In the Hansard recording of
Parliament dated 3.8.1999, the Timbalan Menteri Perpaduan Negara dan Pembangunan Masyarakat, in
tabling the amendments to the GIA, including s.5, 19A and 19B, during the second reading of the
Amendment Bill stated:
at pages 122, 123:
"Turut diberi perhatian oleh Kerajaan dalam rang undang-undang ini ialah nasib budak-budak yang terbuang dan
budak-budak yang tidak mempunyai ibu atau bapa atau penjaga. Melalui rang undang- undang ini kebajikan budakbudak tersebut akan terurus dengan sepatutnya.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua, pindaan yang utama yang dicadangkan melalui pindaan ini ialah kepada Seksyen 5 yang
merupakan pindaan yang selama ini dinanti-nantikan oleh banyak pihak khususnya kaum ibu. Pemberian hak
penjagaan yang sama kepada ibu sebagaimana yang diberikan kepada bapanya akan meredakan keresahan kaum ibu
dan mengatasi banyak kesulitan yang terpaksa dihadapi oleh ibu yang menjaga penjagaan budak...
Rang undang-undang yang dicadangkan ini turut mencadangkan kemasukan dua lagi peruntukan baru iaitu seksyen
baru 19A dan 19B. Melalui Seksyen baru 19A ini, jika dua atau lebih daripada dua orang bertindak sebagai penjaga
seseorang budak dan terdapat pertikaian antara mereka tentang apa-apa perkara yang menyentuh kebajikan budak
itu, maka seorang daripada mereka boleh memohon kepada Mahkamah untuk mendapatkan arahan.;" and

at page 152:
"Perkara yang kedua yang disentuh oleh Yang Berhormat Senator Dato' Lee Pit Chern mengenai hak penjagaan anak
luar nikah, ibu atau wanita perlu jadi penjaga kepada anak luar nikah kerana ia hak semula jadi ibu yang
melahirkannya. Bagi anak yang lahir di luar nikah, anak itu tidak mempunyai legal father. Anak itu mempunyai ibunya.
Melalui rang undang-undang ini ibu tersebut menjadi penjaga anak yang lahir di luar nikah itu. Jika berlaku pertikaian
tentang hak penjagaan anak itu maka perkara itu akan diputuskan oleh mahkamah. Tetapi sekiranya dia ibu tunggal
tentu tidak ada bapa, kalau ada bapa mungkin tidak ada masalah. Jadi, tentulah ibu sebagai penjaga anak itu. Jadi,
terpulanglah kepada ibu bagaimana mereka menjaga anaknya sendiri.".

From the above excerpts of the Hansard, it is beyond doubt that the intention of Parliament, in enacting
section 5 of the GIA, is that the GIA should give equal parental rights to parents, and this includes the mother
and the father (if there is a father) of an illegitimate child. This is to ensure that the welfare of every child,
whether legitimate or illegitimate is safeguarded, and that every child will have a parent to take care of him.
In the case of an illegitimate child, section 5of the GIA would give the natural mother equal rights as a
parent to be appointed as a guardian of the illegitimate child. The Honourable Deputy Minister then stated
that if there is any dispute on the guardianship of such illegitimate child, the matter has to be decided by the
Court.
InLai Menq V. Toh Chew Lian [2011] 6 AMR 417, a recent case decided by me, I had stated similarly the
above excerpts of the Hansard on the matter. In that case I have also spelt out the law on illegitimate
children. I would not repeat what was stated in Lai Meng. Suffice here for me to summarise the present
position of the law governing illegitimate children to be as follows:
Before the decision of the Federal Court in Sean O'Casev Patterson, there were 2 schools of thought
regarding the question whether the GIA applies to illegitimate children :
(a) one school that decided that the GIA does not apply to illegitimate children:
Re Balasinqam & Paravathv & infants: Kannamah V.Palani [1970]1 LNS 134;

T V. O [1992] 1 LNS 45;

Khor Liang Keow V. Tee Ming Kook [1996] 2 CLJ 631;
Low Pak Hounq V. Tan Kok Keonq [1998] 2 MLJ 322;
Chelsea Cabalona Abdullah V. Siek Ming Hua [2008] 8 CLJ 285;
(b) one school that decided that the GIA applies to illegitimate children:
Low Pek Nai V. Koh Chve Guan [1995] 1 MLJ 238;
Sinnakaruppj Periakaruppan V. Bathumalai Krishnan [2001] 2 CLJ 435.
Thus, before Sean O'Casev Patterson, the Courts that decided that the GIA does not apply to illegitimate
children, have instead applied the law according to s 24(d) of the CJA and s 27 of the CLA for cases
regarding the guardianship and custody of illegitimate children.
s 24(d) of CJA provides as follows:
"24. Without prejudice to the generality of section 23 the civil jurisdiction of the High Court shall include -(a) (b) (c) (d)
jurisdiction to appoint and control guardians of infants and generally over the person and property of infants;".

As rightly pointed out by Mr. Balwant, s 24(d) of the CJA merely confers jurisdiction on the High Court to
appoint and control guardians of infants. However, such jurisdiction has to be exercised according to s 27 of
the CLA which provides for the law applicable to the custody and control of infants as follows :
"27. Infants
In all cases relating to the custody and control of infants the law to be administered shall be the same as would have
been administered in like cases in England at the date of the coming into force of this Act, regard being had to the
religion and customs of the parties concerned, unless other provision is or shall be made by written law.".

As I have stated in Yap Lee See V. William [2011] 1 CLJ 793 and Lai Meng and a few other cases, under s
27 of the CLA the law applicable to illegitimate children is the common law of England as at the date of
coming into force of the CLA, "unless other provision is or shall be made by written law."
Before the Federal Court in Sean O'Casev Patterson stated that the GIA applies to illegitimate children,
several High Court Judges, including myself, have applied English common law to decide on the custody of
illegitimate children. In the Family Court in Kuala Lumpur, the issue is perpetually cropping up, whether to
apply the GIA to illegitimate children, or to apply s 24(d) of the CJA read together with s 27 of the CLA.
There are a number of Counsels who rely on either of the 2 sets of laws on this matter, and there are other
Counsels who, on the side of caution, would rely on both sets of laws, as what Mr. Kan did in this case for the
Plaintiff. The current position is that the GIA can be invoked for any application for guardianship of an
illegitimate child. Under s.3 of the GIA, the duties of a guardian include, inter alia, the custody of an infant. In
a case where there is no application for guardianship of an illegitimate child, and the relief sought is merely
for custody and control of an infant, then the application may be made under s 24(d) of the CJA and s 27 of
the CLA. In such a case, if the issue of guardianship is not raised, English common law would apply to
determine the issue of who should be given custody and control of an illegitimate infant.
Going by the reasoning in the foregoing, I did not allow the PO of Mr. Balwant. I ruled that the GIA applies to
illegitimate children.
English common law on illegitimate children
Since the Plaintiff relied on the alternative jurisdiction of the Court under s 24(d) of the CJA and s 27 of the
CLA for his application for guardianship and custody of the children, I therefore had to consider the issue
under those laws as well.
As I have stated in Yap Lee See and Lai Meng, under English common law, the putative father has no rights
over an illegitimate child. The natural mother has full legal rights over such child. However, the exception is
that if it is proven that the natural mother is an unfit mother or is immoral, then such right may be taken away
from the natural mother. In determining this, the Court has to consider the welfare of the children.

GIA provisions on guardianship and custody

S 5 of the GIA provides for the equality of parental rights over a child, including an illegitimate child.
S 3, s 11 and s 19A of the GIA provide as follows :
"Duties of guardian of person
3. The guardian of the person of an infant shall have the custody of the infant, and shall be responsible for his support,
health and education.";
"Matters to be considered
11. The Court or a Judge, in exercising the powers conferred by this Act, shall have regard primarily to the welfare of
the infant and shall, where the infant has a parent or parents, consider the wishes of such parent or both of them, as
the case may be.";
"Dispute between joint guardians
19A. (1) If two or more persons act as joint guardians of an infant and they are unable to agree on any question
affecting the welfare of the infant, any of them may apply to the Court for its direction, and the Court may make such
order regarding the matters in difference as it may think proper.
(2) The powers of the Court under subsection (1) shall include the power to -

1a)

make such order regarding the custody of the infant and the right of access of the parents or of either
of them to the infant as, having regard to the welfare of the infant, the Court thinks fit;

1b)

order the parents or either of them to pay such periodical sums towards the maintenance or
education of the infant as the Court may consider reasonable having regard to the means of such
parents or parent; and

1c)

vary or discharge any order previously made under this section.".

From the above provisions, it is clear that under the GIA, the guardian of an infant shall have custody of the
infant. The primary regard of the Court, when considering the award of custody of an infant under the GIA is
the welfare of the child. However, the wishes of the parent or parents have to be considered as well.
Welfare of the child
The meaning of welfare of a child has been concisely stated in Sean O'Casev Patterson by James Foong
FCJ at page 745:
"[56] And in respect of the welfare of the child, we would adopt what was stated by Chan Sek Keong JC (as
he then was) in the Singapore case of Tan Siew Kee v. Chua Ah Boey [1987] 1 LNS 77 :
The expression 'welfare' under S 3 of the Guardianship of Infant Act (Cap 122, 1985 Ed.) is to be taken in
its widest sense. It means the general well-being of the child and all aspects of his upbringing, religious,
moral as well as physical. His happiness, comfort and security also go to make up his well-being. A loving
parent with a stable home is conducive to the attainment of such well-being. It is not to be measured in
monetary terms.
[57] And when deliberating, the court should adopt "a process whereby, when all the relevant facts,
relationship, claims and wishes of parents, (and potential adopters) risks, choices and other circumstances
are taken into account and weighted, the course to be followed will be that which is most in the interests of
the child's welfare as that term has now to be understood"- Lord MacDermott in J v. C [1970] AC 668 @ 710711 and Halsbury's Laws of England, 4th edn, reissue, (Mackay) para 443.
[58] As we have suggested, the meaning of welfare must be considered in the widest sense and all factors
necessary to be taken into account must be weighed against one another to arrive at a decision. It is
impossible for us to lay down any specifics since circumstances in each case are so infinitely varied where
even decided cases as precedent has limited application.".
In considering the welfare of the 3 children in this case, I now focus on 2 main factors:
(a) whether the Defendant is a fit mother; and
(b) if not, whether the Plaintiff is able to safeguard the welfare and best interests of the children.

(a) Whether the Defendant is a fit mother

Under this factor, I considered the following:

1i)
1ii)

the Defendant's parenting skills; and

the morals of the Defendant as a mother

Regarding the Defendant's parenting skills

The Plaintiff contended that the Defendant has a strong character and a demanding nature. She has a bad
temper and a very competitive spirit.
The children attend the Chinese National Schools. The Plaintiff and Defendant are both English-educated.
The arrangement between them is that the Plaintiff would do the marketing, groceries, cooking on weekends
and other household matters, while the Defendant would help the children with their studies.
The Defendant implemented a very strict study regime which she claims is required for a Chinese school. In
paragraph 19 of her Affidavit she admitted her desire for the children to achieve par excellence in their
education. Since the Defendant does not have the background of a Chinese education, she laboriously
translated the children's study material into English. The Defendant did not want her children to fall behind in
their studies. She gave up her full-time job as a Pharmacist, to work on a contract basis, so that she would
be home by about 2 p.m., and be able to help her children with their homework. Her dedication and sacrifice
is commendable.
However, in pushing for her children to get number 1 or 2 in class or get 100 marks or close to 100 marks for
their examinations, hoping that they can do Medicine one day, the Defendant got stressed up and took to
caning the children very frequently to the point that the children are now fearful of her. The Defendant did not
deny caning the children and she gave her undertaking to the Court that she would not beat the children
anymore if the Court gives her a chance and allows her to have guardianship, custody, care and control of
the children.
It is true, as submitted by learned Counsel for the Defendant, that there is no Medical report or Police report
made of the physical injuries caused to the children. However, there are various photographs taken by the
Plaintiff which show beat marks left by the Defendant's corporal punishment of the children (see exhibit THS5). What the Court finds most alarming are the recordings in the CD taken by the Plaintiff in exhibit THS-9.
That CD can be admitted by the Court under S 73A of the Evidence Act 1950, in particular s 73A(2)(a) and s
73A(2)(b) of the same Act (as was also done in another case before me, Sharon De'Silva V. Glenn Casimir
Fernandez. Originating Summons No., Family Court, High Court Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.).
In that audio CD, I could hear the Defendant, on several occasions, screaming, shouting, threatening, caning
or beating the children, and at the same time using vulgar words. She was forcing the children to study
according to the time and regime set by her. The children were screaming and crying but were forced to sit
down to do their homework or learn, or play the piano, in the midst of much sobbing.
It is regrettable that the Plaintiff, who holds a Pharmacy degree from a university in Adelaide, Australia, would
resort to such irrational and explosive methods of making her children attend to their studies after school. I
could not believe my ears when I heard the whole CD. To my mind, it is without doubt, that at this point of
time, the Defendant has personal issues of exercising self-control. She seems to suffer from the propensity
of going into fits of rage and getting into a frenzy in her attempt to make her children comply with her tight
study regime in order to make them high achievers.
Over and above this is also the evidence of 2 other witnesses. Isabel, the maid, confirmed that the Defendant
beat the children e.g. she slapped V and caned the children. The Defendant also slapped E when E
mentioned the Defendant's boyfriend. Isabel averred that the Defendant would force the children to play the
piano and would scream if the children were tired or exhausted. Daisy Ong, the neighbour of the Plaintiff and
Defendant since 1995, who is a retired University lecturer, also confirmed that she had heard the children
screaming and crying in fear.
I conducted 2 interviews of the 3 children. The first interview, was on 18.11.2011 i.e. during the time when the
Interim Order dated 2.11.2011 was effective, where the Plaintiff was given interim guardianship, custody, care

10

and control of the children pending the disposal of the Originating Summons. The second interview was
conducted on 15.12.2011 i.e. the day of inter partes Hearing of the Originating Summons. This second
interview was ordered after the Court had read the written Submissions of both parties, and the Court noted
the submission of Counsel for the Defendant that there is no level playing field since the children are living
with the Plaintiff, and the Defendant only had interim access to the children on 3 Saturdays and on her recent
birthday prior to the Hearing. The Defendant contended that there was a certain amount of brainwashing by
the Plaintiff in the 3 weeks before the Hearing.
In the first and second interviews, the 3 children individually confirmed to me that the Defendant used to beat
them frequently until they are left with beat marks, and shouted at them using harsh or bad words. V and B
are very fearful of the Defendant and do not wish to live with the Defendant. E confirmed that V and B had
more beatings from the Defendant and V had the most beatings. E also had beatings frequently in a week.
All the 3 children were very clear in expressing to me their independent wishes that they choose to live with
their father, the Plaintiff, who loves them very much and is kind to them. One of the children stated that even
if the Plaintiff canes them, which is not often, it is not painful at all. The children are now happily settled living
with the Plaintiff in the house of the Plaintiffs sister. The Plaintiff, the children's uncle and the children's
cousin all help the children with their studies and life is peaceful for all of them at home. None of the children
miss the Defendant or wish to see her everyday. They do not mind seeing the Defendant once in a while.
Their greatest fear is being beaten by the Defendant frequently throughout the week.
From the evidence and the outcome of my 2 interviews of the children, it is clear that the Defendant had
abused the children physically, verbally and emotionally. She certainly lacks proper parenting skills. It would
not be for the welfare or best interests of the children for the Court to force the children to live with the
Defendant when they are so fearful of her and her beatings.
Regarding the morals of the Defendant as a mother
The Defendant averred that her customary marriage to the Plaintiff was not registered under the LRA. As
such, the Defendant is not married to the Plaintiff, and her status is that of a single mother and she is free to
have her own private life, including her relationship with Christopher.
Mr. Balwant submitted that the Plaintiff moved out of the residence with the children when he discovered that
the Plaintiff renewed an acquaintance with her high school sweetheart over the Internet. He stated that the
Plaintiff is motivated by jealousy and had set about gathering evidence to deprive the Defendant of custody
of her children, even using their eldest daughter to snoop on the Defendant's communications with
Christopher.
Mr. Balwant further submitted that the parties are not lawfully married. The Plaintiff had refused to legitimize
their relationship, despite pleas by the Defendant, after each child was born. In the circumstances, the
Defendant, is a single person and she is free to choose her friends. The fact that she only had internet and/or
telephonic communication with her old friend, whom she had not met for 24 years, is a matter of her private
life, and is of no concern to the Plaintiff.
Mr. Balwant cited Khoo Cheng Nee V. Lubin Chiew Pau Sing [1996] 4 MLJ 171 where Abdul Wahab Patail
JC (as he then was) said :
' Adultery, although frowned upon by our society, by itself is not a sufficient ground to disqualify a mother from having
custody of her children. Merely that another person has emerged in the Petitioner's life was not necessarily by itself bad
for the children..'

On the other hand, Mr. Kan submitted that the Defendant is a highly capable and strong-willed woman and
would be able to get what she wants. He stated that there is no evidence that the Defendant requested the
Plaintiff to register their marriage. If the Plaintiff was really keen to register her marriage she could have just
asked for the relevant forms and filled them up, but she chose not to do so.
As far as the Court is concerned, only the Plaintiff and the Defendant know the truth as to why they did not
register their marriage under the law. It is true that legally the Defendant is single and not married. The
relationship between her and Christopher is their own private matter. However, the crucial point to note here
is that in the eyes of the children, the Plaintiff is their father and the Defendant is their mother, and the
Plaintiff are husband and wife. Their neighbour, Daisy Ong, did not know that the Plaintiff and Defendant

11

were not married. She addresses the Defendant as "Mrs Teoh". In fact, for the past 12 years, the Defendant
introduced herself as "Mrs. Teoh" to work mates, relatives, neighbours, friends and school teachers. The
Defendant herself in filling up forms for income tax and insurance has declared herself as married and has
named the Plaintiff as her husband in the forms (exhibits THS-7 and 8 of Plaintiffs Reply). The EA Forms
were prepared by the Defendant's employer, the Guardian Pharmacy.
At all times the Defendant has been and is dependent on the Plaintiff to pay for her personal costs and
expenses to date. Her average income is about RM3.000 per month and she claims that she contributes
RM1.800 per month to the household expenses, but according to the Plaintiff the RM1.800 was mainly used
to pay for the Defendant's personal expenses. The Plaintiff contributes about RM11,000 to RM 13,000 per
month to the household expenses. Both the Plaintiff and the Defendant have been very much involved in the
upbringing and day-to-day care and management of the children.
As submitted by Mr. Kan, the Defendant does not deny that Christopher is her boyfriend and she does not
deny the numerous SMS and emails that transpired between the Defendant and Christopher (exhibit THS-4
of Plaintiffs Affidavit). The Defendant does not deny that she had naked video calls and cyber sex with
Christopher who lives in Adelaide, Australia and who has only recently married in 2011.
It is immoral for the Defendant to hold herself out to her children as the Plaintiffs wife and yet have an
intimate cyber relationship with Christopher. It is also immoral for the Defendant to flaunt her boyfriend to her
children, V and B, by having telephone or Skype conversations with the boyfriend in the presence of the girls,
knowing full well that the girls have always believed that the Plaintiff is their father and the Defendant is their
mother. One of the children informed me during the interview that she did not like it when the Defendant
wanted her to talk to the Defendant's boyfriend. The 2 older girls are very disappointed that their mother
wants to divorce their father and wishes to go off to Australia to marry her boyfriend. The children do not wish
to follow the Defendant to Australia. They are very happy with their school and friends in Malaysia.
Even if Christopher is not in the picture, the children informed me that they do not wish to live with the
Defendant in Malaysia.
The Defendant may well contend that what she is doing is her own private matter and she is single and not
married and there is nothing immoral in her relationship with Christopher. The fact remains that the
Defendant is implanting in the innocent minds of her children the wrong moral and religious values by her
conduct of having an online affair with Christopher when living in a marriage relationship with the Plaintiff.
With the greatest respect, I do not agree with the decision in Khoo Cheng Nee. In the present case, even
without the physical act of adultery, I am of the view that it is morally wrong for the Defendant to hold herself
out as the Plaintiff's wife to the 3 children and yet openly expose them to her telephone conversations with
Christopher, all the time referring to him as her boyfriend.
Base on the above considerations, I am of the view that the Defendant is an unfit mother, and she has all the
wrong moral values which are harmful to the proper upbringing and welfare of these 3 young children.
(b) Whether the Plaintiff is able to safeguard the welfare and best interests of the children
Mr. Balwant submitted that the Plaintiff is hardly in a position to take the high moral ground, having fathered
not one but all three children out of wedlock, and then persistently refused to marry their mother throughout,
thereby rendering these children illegitimate. If moral turpitude is to be weighed in the balance, the Plaintiff is
to be blamed.
As far as the Court is concerned, the Plaintiff and the Defendant are equally to be blamed for not registering
their marriage under the law, if one wants to apportion blameworthiness. However, that is not the issue here.
The issue here is whether the Plaintiff is fit to have guardianship, custody, care and control of the children
since the Court has made a finding that the Defendant is unfit as a mother to be given the same.
According to the evidence, the Plaintiff contributed RM 11,000 to RM 13,000 per month for the household
expenses. In this Originating Summons he offered to fully bear the expenses of maintaining the children if his
application is granted.
While the Defendant supervised the studies of the children, the Plaintiff was responsible for:

12

2)
2i)
1ii)
1v)
1)

marketing (wet and night market);

planning for the weekly menu for meals, cooking family meals for lunch and dinner over the
weekends;
cutting the children's hair;
sending the children to school and tuition classes;
planning and paying for yearly family holidays during school holidays either locally or overseas.

The Defendant claimed that she was responsible for the daily care of the children but the Affidavit of Isabel
confirms that it is the maid who was responsible for the daily care of the children while the Defendant taught
them. The Plaintiff was given the task of taking care of E since the Defendant did not want E to disrupt her
teaching schedule of the 2 elder children.
The Plaintiff stated that he would normally turn down functions in order to be physically present when the
Defendant was teaching the 2 girls so that he could intervene if the Defendant became too violent when
teaching the girls. The cries of the Plaintiff's daughters "Save Me Daddy" constantly rang out in his ears.
The 3 children informed me that their Daddy is a very good and kind father to them and they are very happy
and comfortable living with him. They need to see their Daddy everyday.
There is clear evidence that the Plaintiff is able to take care of the children, meet their needs, manage the
home, and safeguard the welfare and best interests of the children.
It is not true, as submitted for the Defendant, that the children will be handed over to a surrogate mother i.e.,
the Plaintiffs elder sister. The Plaintiff is temporarily living with his sister and brother-in-law until he gets his
own house. His sister is merely helping him out with the children, but she is not going to be the surrogate
mother. It is the Plaintiff who is now parenting the children, with assistance from his sister and brother-in-law.
I am satisfied that the Plaintiff is a fit and proper person to take care of the children on daily basis. That is the
reason why I granted him the right of care and control of the children. However, since the children are
illegitimate, applying s 5 of the GIA, I granted equality of guardianship to the Plaintiff and the Defendant.
Bearing in mind the fact that the children are illegitimate children, I refrained from granting sole custody of
the children to the Plaintiff. I decided that it is more appropriate to grant joint custody to both parents.
I allowed the Plaintiffs prayer for him to be responsible for the maintenance of the children.
As for the injunction, I decided that it should apply equally to the Plaintiff and Defendant. Either party is not
allowed to take the children out of the jurisdiction of the Court without the consent of the Court and without
the knowledge of the other party.
I also allowed the Plaintiffs prayer for the children to attend counselling with an accredited counsellor.
As for access, after hearing the Submissions of both parties, I ordered access to be given to the Defendant
as follows:
I ordered that the costs are to be borne by the respective parties, as is the usual practice in Family cases.