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2024 MarsdenLR 2533
HIGH COURT MALAYA KUALA LUMPUR
Evrol Mariette Peters, J
GONG – Appellant
Versus
HONG – Respondent
[Joint Divorce Petition No: WA-33JP-168-02/2021]
A consent order in divorce proceedings can only be varied upon demonstrating a material change in circumstances; mere dissatisfaction with terms is insufficient.
Headnote:(A) Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 - Sections 83, 84, 96, and 97 - Variation of consent order - Petitioner-Wife sought to vary custody, maintenance, and housing arrangements post-divorce - Court emphasized the necessity of material change in circumstances for such variations - Application dismissed due to lack of evidence supporting claims of material change. (Paras 6, 12, 49, 100)
(B) Consent Orders - Legal principle - Consent orders must rarely be disturbed unless exceptional circumstances are proven - Court upheld the integrity of the original consent order, emphasizing the importance of stability for the children involved. (Paras 16, 20, 100)
Facts of the case:
The Petitioners were married in December 2006 and filed for divorce in February 2021, resulting in a consent order in March 2021 regarding custody and maintenance of their three children. The Petitioner-Wife later sought to vary these terms, claiming material changes in circumstances.
Findings of Court:
The Court found no substantial evidence of material change in circumstances that would justify varying the consent order, emphasizing the importance of adhering to agreed terms for the welfare of the children.
Issues: The main issues included whether the Petitioner-Wife complied with procedural requirements, whether a consent order could be varied, and whether material changes in circumstances had been established.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court ruled that the Petitioner-Wife failed to demonstrate a material change in circumstances necessary to justify the variation of the consent order, thereby upholding the original terms agreed upon by both parties.
Result: Application dismissed with costs.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. petitioners were married (Para 3) |
| 2. petitioner-wife filed this application (Para 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10) |
| 3. importance of complying with the rules (Para 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101) |
| 4. application was dismissed (Para 102) |
Introduction
[1] This was an application ("this Application") in encl 13 by the Petitioner-Wife, who sought to vary the terms of a consent order granted in March 2021.
[2] In the interest of privacy of all parties concerned, and sensitivity of the issues in these proceedings, the Petitioner-Husband and Petitioner- Wife have been anonymised in this judgment as GONG and HONG respectively.
The Factual Background
[3] The Petitioners ("the Parties") were married in December 2006, and were blessed with three children ("the Children") born respectively in 2009, 2011 and 2014.
[4] In February 2021, the Parties filed a joint petition for divorce in the Kuala Lumpur High Court , resulting in a Court order issued in March 2021 ("the Court Order"). The following terms which were relevant to this Application, had been agreed upon by the Parties:
a) Hak jagaan, pemeliharaan dan kawalan (custody, care and control) untuk ***, *** dan *** (selepas ini dirujuk secara kolektif sebagai "Anak-Anak tersebut") hendaklah diberikan kepada Pempetisyen Suami, dan bahawa Pempetisyen Isteri akan diberikan akses pada setiap masa, termasuk akses penginapan dengan Anak-Anak tersebut (access at all times, including staying access);
b) Pempetisyen-Pempetisyen menanggung sebanyak 50% daripada Nafkah Anak-Anak tersebut masing-masing, iaitu RM2,500.00 sebulan bagi Pempetisyen Suami dan RM2,500.00 bagi Pempetisyen Isteri dengan terma-terma seperti berikut:
(i) Pempetisyen-Pempetisyen membuat bayaran Nafkah Anak-Anak tersebut sebelum hari ketujuh setiap bulan, mulai dari tarikh Dekri Nisi, dalam Bank Akaun Gabungan Pempetisyen-Pempetisyen di Hong Leong Bank Berhad No:*** (selepas ini dirujuk sebagai "Akaun Gabungan HLBB");
(ii) Pempetisyen-Pempetisyen hanya dibenarkan untuk membuat transaksi-transaksi pegeluaran wang yang meliputi perbelanjaan kos pendidikan, perbelanjaan hidup (living expenses), perbelanjaan dalam perubatan dan pergigian Anak-Anak tersebut; bil elektrik TNB, Syabas dan wifi untuk Hartanah Kediaman tersebut;
(iii) Sekiranya bulanan Nafkah Anak-Anak tersebut adalah tidak mencukupi, Pempetisyen-Pempetisyen akan menanggung jumlah lebihan perbelanjaan secara sama rata;
(iv) Sekiranya Anak-Anak tersebut ingin meneruskan pelajarannya ke tahap pengajian ijazah (tertiary education) selepas sekolah menengah, Pempetisyen-Pempetisyen akan menanggung segala perbelanjaan dan yuran pengajian tinggi (tertiary education) Anak-Anak tersebut secara sama rata, dan
(v) Nafkah bulanan tersebut, segala Perbelanjaan lebihan dan Perbelanjaan dan Yuran Pengajian Tinggi hendaklah diteruskan sehingga Anak-Anak tersebut mencapai umur 21 tahun atau menyelesaikan pengajian tinggi (Tertiary Education), mana yang lebih lewat.
...
d) Pempetisyen Suami membayar nafkah sebanyak RM1,500.00 sebulan kepada Pempetisyen Isteri. Pempetisyen Suami hendaklah membayar nafkah tersebut kepada Pempetisyen Isteri pada atau sebelum hari ketujuh setiap bulan, mulai dari tarikh Dekri Nisi. Pembayaran nafkah tersebut akan diberhentikan sekiranya Pempetisyen Isteri berkahwin semula;
f) Pempetisyen Isteri dibenarkan untuk terus tinggal di dipegang dibawah Geran Mukim Nos 608, 609 & 737, Lot Nos 567, 568 & 566, Mukim dan Daerah Petaling, Tempat 8 ½ Sungai Besi Kuyow, Negeri
Selangor dan mempunyai alamat di C11-G-2, The Sanderson
