JUDGMENT

Abdul Rahim Abdul Jalil:

[1] The parties, [AQ] ('husband') and [AR] ('wife'), were married on 29 May 2003. They have three children, all males, who were born on [dates redacted] respectively. Their marriage did not run a smooth course. According to the wife, throughout the marriage, the husband gave insufficient and irregular maintenance for her and for the household expenses. She added that the husband was a violent and abusive person and attacked her physically. On the other hand, the husband alleged that the wife had failed to discharge her responsibilities as a wife and mother. He said that the wife refused to cook, was hardly at home, spent hours surfing the internet each day and disregarded the children. He also alleged that the wife had been incited by her own family members to abandon the marriage. In April 2010, the wife left home and did not return. In January 2011, the wife applied, by way of Originating Summons No 39538, for a divorce from the husband. The application was heard by the President of the Syariah Court and on 16 January 2012, he decreed, as follows:

1. The marriage registered on the 29th day of May 2003 be dissolved by the [husband's] pronouncement of