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2021 MarsdenLR 2989
COURT OF APPEAL PUTRAJAYA
HUNG MOY (P) – Appellant
Versus
ANG CHA HOOI – Respondent
[Civil Appeal No: W-02(IM)-1081-06-2019]
A decree nisi that has been made absolute cannot be set aside without substantial justification, and valid service of process must be established to ensure due process.
Headnote:(A) Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 – Section 61 – Appeal against High Court's decision to set aside Decree Nisi and Decree Nisi Absolute – High Court erred in finding service of Divorce Petition was improper, and that there were grounds to set aside a Decree Nisi already made absolute – The respondent delayed filing application for over seven years and failed to prove the appellant knew his address, thus service was valid – The respondent lacked good reasons to set aside the decree. (Paras 30, 39)
Facts of the case: Appellant and respondent divorced in 2010; respondent applied to set aside decree in 2017 after awareness of appellant's remarriage.
Findings of Court: The appellant fulfilled requirements for service and the respondent provided insufficient grounds for application.
Issues: The main issue concerned the validity of service of the divorce petition and the appropriateness of setting aside the decree after its finalization.
Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that the High Court erred in its decision and emphasized that appellate courts should uphold the integrity and finality of decrees unless there are compelling reasons otherwise.
Result: Appeal allowed and original decrees reinstated.
Introduction
[1] The appeal by the appellant is against the decision of the High Court given on 17 April 2019, allowing the respondent's Notice of Application (Encl 36) to set aside the Decree Nisi dated 2 June 2010 and Certificate Making Decree Nisi Absolute dated 3 September 2010 with costs.
Background Facts
[2] The appellant, 69 years old now, is a retired teacher with a monthly pension of RM1,300.00. She now works as a private tuition teacher.
[3] The respondent, 71 years old now works as an estate agent and security official in Penang.
[4] The appellant and the respondent were married on 23 December 1977. Out of the marriage, they had two children:
(i) Ang Chuan Lek, a son aged 42 years old now; and
(ii) Ang Shin Jee, a daughter aged 33 years old now.
[5] Ang Shin Jee was born with "Down Syndrome" and is mentally disabled. She requires constant care and supervision. This fact is admitted by the respondent.
[6] The appellant and the respondent had lived together at No 9, Jalan Bukit Desa 2, Taman Bukit Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur until 3 June 2008 when the respondent left the house after a quarrel with the appellant.
[7] The couple jointly owned a matrimonial shop house known as No 42C, Jalan Desa Bakti, Taman Desa Town Centre, Kuala Lumpur with each party held equal share. The original land title of this shophouse was in the possession and custody of the respondent.
[8] On 2 July 2009, the appellant filed a contested petition for divorce in Kuala Lumpur High Court.
[9] The Petition was served by way of substituted service as ordered by the Court dated 15 September 2009.
[10] The Petition was heard on 2 June 2010. The respondent did not attend nor defend the hearing.
[11] The High Court allowed the petitioner's petition and granted the Decree Nisi on 2 June 2010 with the following terms:
(a) Pemeliharaan, jagaan dan kawalan ke atas anak perempuan, Ang Shin Jee diberikan kepada pempetisyen sehingga anak perempuan tersebut tidak lagi berada dalam keadaan hilang upaya.
(b) Setengah bahagian hak responden atas apartmen bersama-sama setengah bahagian hak pempetisyen di atasnya yang dipegang di bawah Hakmilik Strata Geran 15135/M5/4/249, No Petak 249 dalam Tingkat 4, Mukim Kuala Lumpur, Lot 51565, Daerah Wilayah Persekutuan dan beralamat No 42C, Jalan Desa Bakti, Taman Desa Town Centre, Taman Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur dijual kepada pihak ketiga dengan terma-terma ditentukan oleh pempetisyen tanpa persetujuan responden diperlukan dan setengah bahagian hasil jualan kepunyaan responden sahaja digunakan untuk membiayai nafkah anak perempuan tersebut;
(c) Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Mahkamah diberi kuasa untuk menandatangani dan menyempurnakan perjanjian jual beli dan pindah milik dan segala suratcara yang lain berkenaan setengah bahagian hak responden dalam apartmen tersebut bagi pihak responden.
(d) Kereta nombor pendaftaran WHE 5671 atas nama responden dipindah milik kepada pempetisyen.
(e) Responden tidak dibenarkan akses kepada anak perempuan tersebut.
[12]Decree Nisi was made absolute on 3 September 2010.
[13] On 8 December 2017, the respondent filed the application to set aside theDecree Nisi and the Decree Nisi Absolute.
[14] On 22 January 2019, the appellant married pastor Bennet Lopez. The marriage was registered on the same date.
Respondent's Notice Of Application
[15] In the Notice of Application (Encl 36), the respondent prayed for the following orders:
i) Bahawa responden suami iaitu Ang Cha Hooi diberikan kebenaran membuat permohonan ini untuk mengenepikan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti bertarikh 15 September 2009.
ii) Selaras dengan perintah mengenepikan Perintah Penyampaian Ganti bertarikh 15 September 2009, untuk mengenepikanDecree Nisi bertarikh 2 Jun 2010.
iii) Selaras dengan perintah mengenepikan Decree Nisi, Sijil Menjadikan Decree Nisi Mutlak bertarikh 3 September 2010 juga diketepikan.
iv) Selaras dengan mengenepikan Perintah Decree Nisi dan Decree Nisi Mutlak, maka Perintah bertarikh 16 November 2015 bagi pengelua
