JUDGMENT

Hj. Abdul Malik bin Hj. Ishak JC:

This is an appeal from the decision of the Magistrate, Magistrate's Court, Parit Buntar, Perak ("the trial Court"). The trial Court ordered the appellant/ defendant ("the husband") to pay as from 14 April, 1992 RM600 per month for maintenance of the respondent/applicant ("the wife") and their son, who was at the material time, in the custody of the wife.

The parties were married according to the Chinese customary rites and they had four children, three girls and a boy. In 1984, when the wife was carrying the youngest child (the boy), it was alleged that the husband assaulted her when she enquired about the "other woman". In due course, the husband forcibly sent the wife to her mother's house. There were incessant quarrels between the parties in regard to the "other woman". The husband refused to allow the three girls to stay with the wife. Visitation rights to the three girls were also denied to the wife. Concerted attempts were made by the wife for her three daughters to stay with her, but it was simply hopeless. The wife denied that the husband had attempted to bring her back to the matrimonial home. The wife averred that the husband h