The court ruled that relevant financial documents must be produced to determine maintenance entitlements in divorce proceedings, emphasizing the relevance and necessity of such documents while addressing procedural issues related to their production.

Azizan Md Arshad JC:

ALASAN KEPUTUSAN

[LAMPIRAN 17]

Introduction

[1]This is an application (‘Enclosure 17”) by the Respondent Wife (“RW”) for an order that documents be produced by the Petitioner Husband (“PH”). This application is made to support relief related to the wife’s maintenance claim in the answer to the PH’s Divorce Petition against the RW.

[2]This application is made under Order 24 rule 10 of the Rules of Court 2012

Cause papers

[3]The documents submitted by the parties to this application are as follows:

(a)Afidavit Sokongan Responden Isteri dated 11-07-2023 (“Afidavit Sokongan Responden Isteri”);

(b)Afidavit Balasan Pempetisyen Suami dated 02-08-2023 (“Afidavit Balasan Pempetisyen Suami”); and

(c)Afidavit Balasan Responden dated 17-08-2023 (“Afidavit Balasan Responden Isteri”)

[4]According to Enclosure 17, which was filed on 28.06.2023, the following documents are required:

(i)Slip Gaji dan Penyata Taksiran Cukai Pempetisyen Suami untuk 10 tahun lalu sehingga tarikh semasa;

(ii)Kesemua penyata-penyata akaun kad kredit Pempetisyen Suami untuk 10 tahun lalu sehingga tarikh semasa;

(iii)Kesemua penyata akaun Pempetisyen Suami dari pelbagai bank-banknya di dalam atau di luar bidangkuasa Mahkamah untuk 10 tahun lalu sehingga tarikh semasa;

(iv)Kesemua salinan-salinan dan / atau butir-butir mengenai akaun-akaun simpanan tetap atau unit trust atau perlaburan Pempetisyen Suami dalam dan juga luar negeri untuk 10 tahun lalu sehingga tarikh semasa;

(v)Salinan-salinan penyata-penyata KWSP Pempetisyen Suami untuk 10 tahun yang lalu sehingga tarikh semasa;

(vi)Butir-butir dan dokumen-dokumen mengenai rumah kedai di No. 21, Lorong Berjaya, Pulau Tikus, 10350 Pulau Pinang;

(vii)Butir-butir dan dokumen-dokumen mengenai rumah di No. 84, Jalan Tasek SS2, Bandar Tasek Muitara, 14120, Simpang Ampat.Pulau Pinang; dan

(viii)Butir-butir dan dokumen-dokumen mengenai rumah di 104-1-3A, Villa Emas Condo, Persiaran Bayan Indah, 11900, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.

[5]The grounds of the application states that, in answering to the Divorce Petition, the RW claims among others, a maintenance amounting to RM20,000.00 per month and money arrears of RM20,000.00 per month since 01-01-2020 until the date of the marriage decree nisi. The RW is also claiming for the property owned and acquired during their marriage. The RW has filed this notice to produce and has been handed over to PH, but the PH failed to comply with the notice.

Background facts

[6]The PH and the RW were married on 30-10-1997 and gave birth to 2 children from the marriage. The children of the marriage have grown up, namely 24 years and 22 years old.

[7]The PH and the RW have lived at address No. 20, Jalan Kacang Piring, 11200, Tanjung Bungah, Penang (“last matrimonial home”).

[8]On January 1, 2020, PH left the last matrimonial home and moved to address No. 21, Lorong Berjaya, 10350, Pulau Pinang (the office address of the Plaintiffs husband named Cipta Teguh Architect Sdn Bhd). The RW still lives in the last matrimonial home.

[9]On 28-09-2022, the PH filed a Divorce Petition against the RW. The RW submitted a notice for a list of relevant documents but was ignored by the PH, therefore Enclosure 17 is filed by the RW.

PH’s Submissions(i) Preliminary Objection

[10]The PH submits that the RW’s application herein is made by way of a wrong mode and constitutes an abuse of court process. The RW’s claim is an application for ancillary relief within the ambit of Divorce and Matrimonial Proceedings Rules 1980 (DPMR), where specific provisions are provided under the DPMR in relation to evidences for such ancillary relief.

[11]For ease of reference, Rules 56, 61 and 65 of the DPMR states as follows: -

(a)Rule 56 Application by petitioner or respondent for ancillary relief.

(1) Any application by a petitioner, or by a respondent who files an answer claiming relief, for—

Rule 61General provisions as to evidence etc. on application for

ancillary relief.

(c) Rule 65

(a)an order for maintenance pending suit;

(b)a property divisio