The court ruled that a customary marriage unregistered post the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 is void, denying claims for spousal status and property.

Bhupindar Singh Gurcharan Singh Preet JC:

Introduction

[1] The plaintiff (Ms Low Yaan Yaan) claims to be the lawful wife of the defendant and that Oh Eng Lim and Oh Yi Lim are the defendant's children. The plaintiff and her children are seeking an order to transfer the immovable properties, shares in companies and savings of the defendant to their names (Ms Low Yaan Yaan and the children are referred to as 'plaintiffs').

Background - Plaintiffs' Case

[2] It is undisputed that the plaintiff and the defendant were married according to Chinese custom on 6 September 2008. A traditional wedding dinner was also held on 7 September 2008. However, the plaintiff and defendant did not register their marriage at all. After their marriage, the plaintiff and the defendant lived in one of the defendant's properties at No 48T, Lorong Limau G4/1, Jalan Changkat Jong, 36000 Teluk Intan, Perak ('matrimonial home').

[3] On 15 October 2010, the plaintiff gave birth to Oh Eng Lim ('1st child') and Oh Yi Lim ('2nd child') was born on 27 March 2012. The plaintiff asserts that throughout the marriage and after the children's birth, the defendant cared for them by providing security, a home to live in, money and all other essential and basic needs.

[4] On or about March 2019, the defendant fell ill and was admitted to KPJ Hospital Ipoh. The defendant was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo brain surgeries. The plaintiff alleges that after the defendant was discharged from the hospital, she had difficulty visiting the defendant and the defendant stopped providing money or contribution to her and the children. Therefore, the plaintiffs filed this action on 24 December 2019 for the following reliefs:

"22. Akibat daripada tindakan Defendan, Plaintif Low Yaan Yaan dan anak- anaknya telah mengalami kerugian dan kehilangan kerana Defendan sebagai bapa kandung anak-anak tersebut mempunyai tanggungjawab terhadap mereka serta tanggungjawabnya kepada Plaintif Low Yaan Yaan sebagai isteri undang-undang am (common law wife).

18. [sic] ADALAH DENGAN INI, Plaintif Low Yaan Yaan dan anak-anaknya menuntut terhadap Defendan:

a. Satu perintah deklarasi bahawa Low Yaan Yaan (No KP: 730409-14-5382) adalah isteri sah undang-undang am (common law wife) kepada Cheong Kong Huat;

b. Satu perintah deklarasi bahawa OH ENG LIM (No Sijil Kelahiran: 101015-08-1193) dan OH YI LIM (No Sijil Kelahiran: 120327-08-1284) adalah anak kandung yang sah kepada Defendan Cheong Kong Huat;

c. Bahawa satu perintah dikeluarkan terhadap Defendan untuk Pengakaunan dan siasatan (accounts and inquiries) harta dan asset yang dipegang olehnya sebagai harta sepencarian;

d. Bahawa segala harta dan aset yang dipegang oleh Defendan yang merupakan harta sepencarian dan berada di dalam apa jua bentuk dilupuskan (jika perlu) dan hasil bersih dibahagi secara ekuitable di antara Plaintif Low Yaan Yaan dan Defendan;

e. Satu perintah bahawa kesemua bahagian rumah perkahwinan (matrimonial home) yang didaftar di atas nama Defendan yang mempunyai alamat pos di No 48T, Lorong Limau G4/1, Jalan Changkat Jong, 36000 Teluk Intan, Perak dipindah milik kepada Plaintif Low Yaan Yaan;

f. Satu perintah bahawa bahagian ekuitable hartanah yang mempunyai alamat pos di No 342, Lorong Pala 1, Taman Teluk Intan, 36000 Teluk Intan, Perak ("rumah bungalow") dipindah milik kepada Plantif-Plaintif;

g. Satu perintah bahawa bahagian ekuitable tanah yang terletak di Jalan Makmur, Taman Makmur, 36000 Teluk Intan, Perak ("tanah tersebut") yang didaftar di atas nama Defendan dipindah milik kepada Plaintif-Plaintif;

h. Satu perintah bahawa bahagian ekuitable saham-saham yang dipegang oleh Defendan sama ada di atas nama Defendan sendiri atau melalui nominee tetapi tidak terhad kepada yan