LAWS OF MALAYSIA REPRINT Act 164 LAW REFORM (MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE) ACT 1976 Incorporating all amendments up to 1 January 2006 PUBLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF LAW REVISION, MALAYSIA UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE REVISION OF LAWS ACT 1968 IN COLLABORATION WITH PERCETAKAN NASIONAL MALAYSIA BHD 2006 Laws of Malaysia 2 ACT 164 LAW REFORM (MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE) ACT 1976 Date of Royal Assent ... ... ... ... 6 March 1976 Date of publication in the Gazette ... 11 March 1976 English text to be authoritative ... ... P.U. (B) 127 of 1976 PREVIOUS REPRINTS First Reprint ... ... ... ... ... 1981 Second Reprint ... ... ... ... ... 1997 Third Reprint ... ... ... ... ... 2001 Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 3 LAWS OF MALAYSIA Act 164 LAW REFORM (MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE) ACT 1976 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART I PRELIMINARY Section 1. Short title and commencement 2. Interpretation 3. Application 4. Subsisting valid marriages deemed to be registered under this Act and dissoluble only under this Act PART II MONOGAMOUS MARRIAGES 5. Disability to contract marriages otherwise than under this Act 6. Avoidance of marriage by subsisting prior marriage 7. Offence 8. Continuance of marriage PART III MARRIAGE Restrictions on marriage 9. Persons by whom marriages may be solemnized 10. Avoidance of marriages where either party is under minimum age for marriage 11. Prohibited relationships 12. Requirement of consent Laws of Malaysia 4 ACT 164 Preliminaries to marriage Section 13. Non-application of sections 14 to 20 inclusive to certain parties to a marriage 14. Notice of marriage 15. Publication of notice 16. Declaration to accompany notice 17. Issue of certificate for marriage 18. Marriage to take place within six months 19. Caveat 20. Proceedings if caveat entered 21. Licence Solemnization of marriages 22. Solemnization of marriages 23. Solemnization of a civil marriage performed in office of a Registrar or elsewhere 24. Solemnization of a marriage through religious ceremony, custom or usage 25. Entry in marriage register Solemnization of marriages in Malaysian Embassies, etc., abroad 26. PART IV REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES 27. Registration 28. Appointment of Registrar General, Registrars and Assistant Registrars of Marriages 29. Books and Registers to be kept of all marriages in Malaysia 30. Copies of entries to be sent to Registrar General 31. Registration of foreign marriage by a person citizen of or domiciled in Malaysia 32. Unlawful registers 33. Voluntary registration of marriages previously solemnized under religion or custom 34. Legal effect of registration Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 5 PART V PENALTIES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SOLEMNIZATION AND REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES Section 35. Omission to appear before Registrar within prescribed time 36. Contravention of section 32 37. Interference with marriage False oath, etc., for procuring marriage 38. 39. False allegation in caveat 40. Unauthorized solemnization of marriages 41. Offences relating to solemnization of marriages 42. Destroying or falsifying register book 43. Sanction for prosecution 44. Correction of errors 45. Inspection and search 46. Proof 46A. Damaged registers 46B. Missing register PART VI DIVORCE 47. Principles of law to be applied 48. Extent of power to grant relief 49. Additional jurisdiction in proceedings by a wife 50. Restriction on petitions within two years of marriage 51. Dissolution on ground of conversion to Islam 52. Dissolution by mutual consent 53. Breakdown of marriage to be sole ground for divorce 54. Proof of breakdown 55. Provisions designed to encourage reconciliation 56. Rules to provide for agreements to be referred to court 57. Contents of divorce petition 58. Damages for adultery may be claimed against co-respondent 59. Powers of court on claim to damages for adultery Laws of Malaysia 6 ACT 164 Section 60. Hearing of petition Decree nisi and proceedings thereafter 61. 62. Remarriage of divorced persons Proceedings for decree nisi of presumption of death and divorce 63. Judicial Separation 64. Judicial separation 65. Judicial separation no bar to petition for divorce 66. Property of wife after judicial separation Nullity of Marriage 67. Extent of power to grant relief 68. Petition for nullity of marriage 69. Grounds on which a marriage is void 70. Grounds on which a marriage is voidable 71. Bars to relief where marriage is voidable 72. Marriages governed by foreign law or celebrated abroad under Malaysian law 73. Effect of decree of nullity in case of voidable marriage 74. Collusion not to be bar to relief in cases of nullity 75. Legitimacy where nullity decree made PART VII MATTERS INCIDENTAL TO MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS 76. Power for court to order division of matrimonial assets Maintenance of spouse 77. Power for court to order maintenance of spouse 78. Assessment of maintenance 79. Power for court to order security for maintenance 80. Compounding of maintenance 81. Duration of orders for maintenance 82. Right to maintenance to cease on remarriage 83. Power for court to vary orders for maintenance 84. Power for court to vary agreements for maintenance Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 7 Section 85. Maintenance payable under order of court to be inalienable 86. Recovery of arrears of maintenance PART VIII PROTECTION OF CHILDREN 87. Meaning of "child" 88. Power for court to make order for custody 89. Orders subject to conditions 90. Declaratory order as to unfitness of parent to have custody 91. Custody of children deemed legitimate 92. Duty to maintain children 93. Power for court to order maintenance for children 94. Power for court to order security for maintenance 95. Duration of orders for custody and maintenance 96. Power for court to vary orders for custody or maintenance 97. Power for court to vary agreement for custody or maintenance 98. Recovery of arrears of maintenance 99. Duty to maintain child accepted as member of family Court to have regard to advice of welfare officers, etc. 100. 101. Power for court to restrain taking of child out of Malaysia Other reliefs 102. Power for court to set aside and prevent dispositions intended to defeat claims to maintenance 103. Injunction against molestation PART IX MISCELLANEOUS 104. Recognition of marriage contracted abroad Recognition of marriages contracted in Embassies, etc., in Malaysia 105. 106. Requirement of reference to conciliatory body before petition for divorce 107. Maintenance of register of divorces and annulments 108. Power to make rules 109. Repeal SCHEDULE Laws of Malaysia 8 ACT 164 Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 9 LAWS OF MALAYSIA Act 164 LAW REFORM (MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE) ACT 1976 An Act to provide for monogamous marriages and the solemnization and registration of such marriages; to amend and consolidate the law relating to divorce; and to provide for matters incidental thereto. *[Throughout Malaysia--1 March 1982, P.U. (B) 73/1982] BE IT ENACTED by the Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong with the advice and consent of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: PART I PRELIMINARY Short title and commencement 1.  This Act may be cited as the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 and shall come into force on such date as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may, by notification in the Gazette appoint and different dates may be appointed for Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Interpretation 2. (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-- "aborigine" has the same meaning assigned to it in section 3 of the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 [Act 134]; *NOTE--This Act is made applicable to the Federal Territory of Labuan vide Modification Order No. P.U. (A) 195/1985. Laws of Malaysia 10 ACT 164 "appointed date" means the date of coming into operation of this Act; "Chief Minister", in relation to-- (a) the States of Malaysia, means the Chief Minister or Menteri Besar of a State; (b) the Federal Territory means the Minister; (c) the Malaysian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, means the Malaysian Ambassador, High Commissioner or Consul respectively; "child of the marriage" means a child of both parties to the marriage in question or a child of one party to the marriage accepted as one of the family by the other party; and "child" in this context includes an illegitimate child of, and a child adopted by, either of the parties to the marriage in pursuance of an adoption order made under any written law relating to adoption; "court" means the High Court or a Judge thereof or, where a Sessions Court Judge has jurisdiction by virtue of subsection (2), the Sessions Court or a Sessions Court Judge of that Court; "marriage district" means an area which has been defined as a marriage district under subsection 28(5), or if no such area has been so defined in any State or Federal Territory, that State or Federal Territory; "marriage register" includes-- (a) any register of marriages kept under any written law relating to registration of marriages prior to the appointed date; (b) marriage registers constituted under subsection 46A(1) and section 46B; and (c) microfilms, computers and other forms of records made under subsection 46A(2); "marriage with another woman" means marriage of any person, being married to any other woman during the life of the former wife, whether the second marriage has taken place within Malaysia or elsewhere; Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 11 "Minister" means the Minister charged with responsibility for the registration of marriages; "minor" means a person who is under the age of twenty-one years and who is not a widow or widower; "native", in relation to Sabah and Sarawak, has the same meaning assigned to it in Clause (6) of Article 161A of the Federal Constitution; "Registrar" means a Registrar of Marriages appointed under this Act and includes the Registrar General, an Assistant Registrar General, a Superintendent Registrar, a Deputy Registrar and an Assistant Registrar of Marriages; "Registrar General" means the Registrar General of Marriages and includes a Deputy Registrar General of Marriages appointed under this Act. (2) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may, on the advice of the Chief Judge, by notification in the Gazette, confer upon any Sessions Court Judge jurisdiction to deal with any matter under this Act. Application 3. (1) Except as is otherwise expressly provided this Act shall apply to all persons in Malaysia and to all persons domiciled in Malaysia but are resident outside Malaysia. (2) For the purposes of this Act, a person who is a citizen of Malaysia shall be deemed, until the contrary is proved, to be domiciled in Malaysia. (3) This Act shall not apply to a Muslim or to any person who is married under Islamic law and no marriage of one of the parties which professes the religion of Islam shall be solemnized or registered under this Act; but nothing herein shall be construed to prevent a court before which a petition for divorce has been made under section 51 from granting a decree of divorce on the petition of one party to a marriage where the other party has converted to Islam, and such decree shall, notwithstanding any other written law to the contrary, be valid against the party to the marriage who has so converted to Islam. Laws of Malaysia 12 ACT 164 (4) This Act shall not apply to any native of Sabah or Sarawak or any aborigine of Peninsular Malaysia whose marriage and divorce is governed by native customary law or aboriginal custom unless-- (a) he elects to marry under this Act; (b) he contracted his marriage under the Christian Marriage Ordinance [Sabah Cap. 24]; or (c) he contracted his marriage under the Church and Civil Marriage Ordinance [Sarawak Cap. 92]. Subsisting valid marriages deemed to be registered under this Act and dissoluble only under this Act 4. (1) Nothing in this Act shall affect the validity of any marriage solemnized under any law, religion, custom or usage prior to the appointed date. (2) Such marriage, if valid under the law, religion, custom or usage under which it was solemnized, shall be deemed to be registered under this Act. (3) Every such marriage, unless void under the law, religion, custom or usage under which it was solemnized, shall continue until dissolved-- (a) by the death of one of the parties; (b) by order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or (c) by a decree of nullity made by a court of competent jurisdiction. PART II MONOGAMOUS MARRIAGES Disability to contract marriages otherwise than under this Act 5. (1) Every person who on the appointed date is lawfully married under any law, religion, custom or usage to one or more spouses shall be incapable, during the continuance of such marriage or marriages, of contracting a valid marriage under any law, religion, custom or usage with any other person, whether the first mentioned marriage or the purported second mentioned marriage is contracted within Malaysia or outside Malaysia. Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 13 (2) Every person who on the appointed date is lawfully married under any law, religion, custom or usage to one or more spouses and who subsequently ceases to be married to such spouse or all such spouses, shall, if he thereafter marries again, be incapable during the continuance of that marriage of contracting a valid marriage with any other person under any law, religion, custom or usage, whether the second mentioned marriage or purported third mentioned marriage is contracted within Malaysia or outside Malaysia. (3) Every person who on the appointed date is unmarried and who after that date marries under any law, religion, custom or usage shall be incapable during the continuance of such marriage of contracting a valid marriage with any other person under any law, religion, custom or usage, whether the first mentioned marriage or the purported second mentioned marriage is contracted within Malaysia or outside Malaysia. (4) After the appointed date, no marriage under any law, religion, custom or usage may be solemnized except as provided in Part III. Avoidance of marriage by subsisting prior marriage 6. (1) Every marriage contracted in contravention of section 5 shall be void. (2) If any male person lawfully married under any law, religion, custom or usage shall during the continuance of such marriage contract another union with any woman, such woman shall have no right of succession or inheritance on the death intestate of such male person. (3) Nothing in this section shall affect the liability of any person to pay such maintenance as may be directed to be paid by him under this Act or any other written law. Offence 7. (1) Any person lawfully married under any law, religion, custom or usage who during the continuance of such marriage purports to contract a marriage under any law, religion, custom or usage in Laws of Malaysia 14 ACT 164 contravention of section 5 shall be deemed to commit the offence of marrying again during the life-time of husband or wife, as the case may be, within the meaning of section 494 of the Penal Code [Act 574]. (2) Where an offence under section 494 of the Penal Code is committed by virtue of subsection (1) by any person in any place outside Malaysia he may be dealt with in respect of that offence as if it had been committed at any place within Malaysia at which he may be found or to which he may have been brought in consequence of any proceeding for his extradition to Malaysia from any place outside Malaysia: Provided that any proceeding against any person under this subsection which would be a bar to subsequent proceedings against him for the same offence if the offence had been committed in Malaysia shall be a bar to further proceedings against him under t h e Extradition Ordinance 1958 [ Ord. 2 of 1958 ]* or the Commonwealth Fugitive Criminals Act 1967 [Act 54 of 1967]* in respect of the same offence outside Malaysia. Continuance of marriage 8.  Every marriage solemnized in Malaysia after the appointed date, other than a marriage which is void under this Act, shall continue until dissolved-- (a) by the death of one of the parties; (b) by order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or (c) by a decree made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the marriage is null and void. PART III MARRIAGE Restrictions on marriage Persons by whom marriages may be solemnized 9.  A marriage under this Act may be solemnized only by a Registrar. *NOTE--The Extradition Ordinance 1958 [Ord. 2 of 1958] and the Commonwealth Fugitive Criminals Act 1967 [Act 54 of 1967] has since been repealed by the Extradition Act 1992 [Act 479]­see section 54 of Act 479. Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 15 Avoidance of marriages where either party is under minimum age for marriage 10.  Any marriage purported to be solemnized in Malaysia shall be void if at the date of the marriage either party is under the age of eighteen years unless, for a female who has completed her sixteenth year, the solemnization of such marriage was authorized by a licence granted by the Chief Minister under subsection 21(2). Prohibited relationships 11. (1) No person shall marry his or her grandparent, parent, child or grandchild, sister or brother, great-aunt or great-uncle, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, great-niece or great-nephew, as the case may be: Provided that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit any person who is a Hindu from marrying under Hindu law or custom his sister's daughter (niece) or her mothers's brother (uncle). (2) No person shall marry the grandparent or parent, child or grandchild of his or her spouse or former spouse. (3) No person shall marry the former spouse of his or her grandparent or parent, child or grandchild. (4) No person shall marry a person whom he or she has adopted or by whom he or she has been adopted. (5) For the purposes of this section, relationship of the half blood is as much an impediment as relationship of the full blood and it is immaterial whether a person was born legitimate or illegitimate. (6) The Chief Minister may in his discretion, notwithstanding this section, grant a licence under this section for a marriage to be solemnized if he is satisfied that such marriage is unobjectionable under the law, religion, custom or usage applicable to the parties thereto and, where such marriage is solemnized under such licence, such marriage shall be deemed to be valid. Laws of Malaysia 16 ACT 164 Requirement of consent 12. (1) A person who has not completed his or her twenty-first year shall, notwithstanding that he or she shall have attained the age of majority as prescribed by the Age of Majority Act 1971 [Act 21], nevertheless be required, before marrying, to obtain the consent in writing-- (a) of his or her father; (b) if the person is illegitimate or his or her father is dead, of his or her mother; (c) if the person is an adopted child, of his or her adopted father, or if the adopted father is dead, of his or her adopted mother; or (d) if both his or her parents (natural or adopted) are dead, of the person standing in loco parentis to him or her before he or she attains that age, but in any other case no consent shall be required. (2) Where the court is satisfied that the consent of any person to a proposed marriage is being withheld unreasonably or all those persons who could give consent under subsection (1) are dead or that it is impracticable to obtain such consent, the court may, on application, give consent and such consent shall have the same effect as if it had been given by the person whose consent was required by subsection (1). (3) An application to the High Court under this section shall be made to a Judge in chambers. (4) When an application is made to the High Court in consequence of a refusal to give consent, notice of the application shall be served upon the person who refused to give consent. (5) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Part consent to the marriage of a minor shall not be necessary if the minor has been previously married. (6) There shall be no appeal from an order of a Judge under this section. Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 17 Preliminaries to marriage Non-application of sections 14 to 20 inclusive to certain parties to a marriage 13.  Sections 14 to 20 inclusive shall not apply to parties to a marriage to be solemnized in accordance with section 24. Notice of marriage 14.  Whenever any person desire to marry in Malaysia each of the parties to the intended marriage shall sign and give a notice in the prescribed form in person to the Registrar of the marriage district in which such party has been resident for the period of seven days immediately preceding the giving of such notice: Provided that when both the parties have been resident for the required period in the same marriage district only one such notice need be given by them. Publication of notice 15.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Registrar shall cause such notice to be published by posting a copy in a conspicuous place in his office visible to the public and shall keep the same so posted up until he grants his certificate under section 17 or until three months have elapsed, whichever is the earlier. Declaration to accompany notice 16. (1) Every notice required to be given under section 14 shall be accompanied by a written declaration-- (a) that one or both the parties to the intended marriage has been resident in the marriage district for the period of seven days immediately preceding the giving of such notice; (b) either-- (i) that each of the parties is twenty-one years of age or over, or, if not, is a widower or widow, as the case may be; or Laws of Malaysia 18 ACT 164 (ii) if either party is a minor who has not been previously married and the female party not under the age of sixteen years, that the consent of the appropriate person mentioned in section 12 has been given in writing, or has been dispensed with, or has been given by a court in accordance with the provisions of section 12; (c) that there is no lawful impediment to the marriage; and (d) that neither of the parties to the intended marriage is married under any law, religion, custom or usage to any person other than the person with whom such marriage is proposed to be contracted. (2) Every such declaration shall be in writing in the prescribed form and shall be made by the person giving such notice in the presence of the Registrar who shall attest the same; if such person does not understand Bahasa Malaysia, the Registrar shall ascertain whether such person is cognisant of the purport of the declaration and, if not shall translate or cause to be translated in his presence the declaration to such person into the language which he understands and shall certify on the declaration that such translation has been duly made or is not required as the case may be. Issue of certificate for marriage 17.  The Registrar, on being satisfied that the declaration complied with the requirements stated in section 16, shall at any time after the expiration of twenty-one days from the date of publication of the notice under section 15 and upon payment to him of the prescribed fee, issue his certificate for marriage in the prescribed form. Marriage to take place within six months 18.  Subject to section 20, if the marriage does not take place within six months after the date of publication of the notice, the notice and all proceedings consequent thereon shall be void and fresh notice shall be given before the parties can lawfully marry. Caveat 19. (1) Any person, on payment of the prescribed fee, may enter a caveat with the Registrar against the issue of a certificate for the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 19 marriage of any person named in the caveat and notice of whose intended marriage has been given to the Registrar. (2) A caveat entered under this section shall contain the name and place of residence of the person entering the caveat and the grounds of objection upon which the caveat is founded and shall be signed by the person entering the caveat. Proceedings if caveat entered 20. (1) If a caveat is entered in accordance with section 19 the Registrar shall not issue a certificate for the marriage against which the caveat has been entered unless-- (a) after enquiring into the matter of the said objection, he is satisfied that it ought not to prevent the issue of such certificate for the marriage; or (b) the caveat is withdrawn by the person who entered it: Provided that in cases of doubt it shall be lawful for the Registrar to refer the matter of any such caveat to the High Court which shall decide upon the same. (2) Where the Registrar has refused to issue the certificate for marriage the person applying for the same shall have a right of appeal to the High Court which shall thereupon either confirm the refusal or direct the grant of the certificate for marriage. (3) The High Court may require proof of the allegations contained in the caveat in a summary way and may hear evidence in support of and in opposition to the objection. (4) The proceeding under this section shall be before a Judge in chambers. (5) There shall be no appeal from a decision of a Judge under this section. (6) If a caveat is entered in accordance with section 19, then, notwithstanding section 18, no fresh notice need be given and the parties may lawfully marry within three months from the date on which the Registrar issues the certificate for marriage. Laws of Malaysia 20 ACT 164 (7) If the High Court declares the grounds of objections to be frivolous and such as ought not to prevent the issue of the certificate for marriage the person entering the caveat shall be liable for the costs of all proceedings relating thereto and for damages to be recovered by suit or action by the party against whose marriage such caveat was entered. Licence 21. (1) The Chief Minister, upon proof being made to him by statutory declaration that there is no lawful impediment to the proposed marriage, and upon his being satisfied that the necessary consent, if any, to such marriage has been obtained, or that the consent has been dispensed with or given under section 12 may, if he shall think fit, dispense with the giving of notice, and with the issue of a certificate for marriage, and may grant his licence in the prescribed form, authorizing the solemnization of a marriage between the parties named in such licence. (2) The Chief Minister may in his discretion grant a licence under this section authorizing the solemnization of a marriage although the female party to the marriage is under the age of eighteen years, but not in any case before her completion of sixteen years. (3) The Chief Minister on being satisfied, by statutory declaration or otherwise as to him seems proper, that it is more convenient that a marriage under section 23 be solemnized in some place other than in the office of a Registrar may issue a licence in the prescribed form for such purpose. (4) A licence authorizing a marriage to be solemnized in a place other than the office of a Registrar shall specify the place in which such marriage may be solemnized. (5) If the marriage authorized by a licence under this section is not solemnized within one month from the date of the licence the licence shall become void. (6) (a) The Chief Minister may in writing delegate his power under this section to the Registrar General, Assistant Registrar General or Superintendent Registrar and may at any time revoke any such delegation. Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 21 (b) No delegation under paragraph (a) shall be deemed to divest the Chief Minister of his power under this section and he may, if he thinks fit, exercise such power notwithstanding any such delegation. Solemnization of marriages Solemnization of marriages 22. (1) Every marriage under this Act shall be solemnized-- (a) in the office of a Registrar with open doors within the hours of six in the morning and seven in the evening; (b) in such place other than in the office of a Registrar at such time as may be authorized by a valid licence issued under subsection 21(3); or (c) in a church or temple or at any place of marriage in accordance with section 24 at any such time as may be permitted by the religion, custom or usage which the parties to the marriage or either of them profess or practise. (2) A valid marriage may be solemnized under paragraph (1)(a) or (b) by a Registrar if a certificate for the marriage issued by the Registrar or Registrars concerned or a licence authorizing the marriage is delivered to him. (3) A valid marriage may be solemnized under paragraph (1)(c) by an Assistant Registrar if he is satisfied by statutory declaration that-- (a) either-- (i) each of the parties is twenty-one years of age or over, or, if not, is a widower or widow, as the case may be, or (ii) if either party is a minor who has not been previously married and the female party not under the age of sixteen years that the consent of the appropriate person mentioned in section 12 has been given in writing, or has been dispensed with, or has been given by a court in accordance with section 12; (b) there is no lawful impediment to the marriage; Laws of Malaysia 22 ACT 164 (c) neither of the parties to the intended marriage is married under any law, religion, custom or usage to any person other than the person with whom such marriage is proposed to be contracted; and (d) in so far as the intended marriage is a Christian marriage and is to be solemnized in accordance with the rites, ceremonies or usages of a Christian religious denomination, the provisions of the canons of such religious denomination relating to the publication of banns or the giving notice of the intended marriage have been complied with or lawfully dispensed with in accordance with such canons. (4) Every marriage purported to be solemnized in Malaysia shall be void unless a certificate for marriage or a licence has been issued by the Registrar or Chief Minister or a statutory declaration under subsection (3) has been delivered to the Registrar or Assistant Registrar, as the case may be. (5) Every marriage shall be solemnized in the presence of at least two credible witnesses besides the Registrar. (6) No marriage shall be solemnized unless the Registrar is satisfied that both the parties to the marriage freely consent to the marriage. Solemnization of a civil marriage performed in office of a Registrar or elsewhere 23.  The Registrar acting under paragraph 22(1)(a) or (b) shall, after delivery to him of a certificate for the marriage issued by the Registrar or Registrars concerned or a licence authorizing the marriage, address the parties in the following words, either directly or through an interpreter: "Do I understand that you A.B. and you C.D. are here of your own free will for the purpose of becoming man and wife?". Upon their answering in the affirmative he shall proceed thus: "Take notice then that, by this solemnization of your marriage before these witnesses here present according to law, you consent to be legally married for life to each other, and that this marriage cannot be dissolved during your lifetime except by a valid judgment of the court and if either of you shall, during the lifetime of the other, contract another marriage, howsoever and wheresoever Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 23 solemnized, while this marriage subsists, you will thereby be committing an offence against the law.". Next, the Registrar shall enquire of the parties, directly or through an interpreter, whether they know of any lawful impediment why they should not be joined together in matrimony. Upon their answering in the negative he shall enquire, directly or through an interpreter, of each of the parties whether he or she will take her or him to be his or her lawful wedded wife or husband. Upon their answering in the affirmative, the Registrar, the parties and the witnesses shall comply with section 25. Solemnization of a marriage through religious ceremony, custom or usage 24. (1) Where any clergyman or minister or priest of any church or temple is appointed by the Minister to act as Assistant Registrar of Marriages for any marriage district, such clergyman or minister or priest may after delivery to him of a statutory declaration under subsection 22(3) solemnize any marriage, if the parties to the marriage or either of them profess the religion to which the church or temple belong, in accordance with the rites and ceremonies of that religion. (2) Where any person is appointed by the Minister to act as Assistant Registrar of Marriages for any marriage district such person may after delivery to him a statutory declaration under subsection 22(3) solemnize any marriage in accordance with the custom or usage which the parties to the marriage or either of them practise. (3) An Assistant Registrar solemnizing a marriage under this section shall in some part of the ceremony remind the parties that either of them shall be incapable during the continuance of the marriage of contracting a valid marriage with any other person and if either of them shall marry during the continuance of the marriage he or she shall commit an offence. (4) In this section-- "priest of a temple" includes any member of a committee of management or governing body of that temple and any committee member of any religious association; "priest of a church" includes any officer or elder of the church. Laws of Malaysia 24 ACT 164 Entry in marriage register 25. (1) Immediately after the solemnization under section 23 or 24 is performed the Registrar shall enter the prescribed particulars in the marriage register. (2) Such entry shall be attested by the parties to the marriage and by two witnesses other than the Registrar present at the solemnization of the marriage. (3) Such entry shall then be signed by the Registrar solemnizing the marriage. Solemnization of marriages in Malaysian Embassies, etc., abroad 26. (1) A marriage may be solemnized by the Registrar appointed under subsection 28(4) at the Malaysian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in any country which has not notified the Government of Malaysia of its objection to solemnization of marriages at such Malaysian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate: Provided that the Registrar shall be satisfied-- (a) that one or both of the parties to the marriage is a citizen of Malaysia; (b) that each party has the capacity to marry according to this Act; (c) that, where either party is not domiciled in Malaysia, the proposed marriage, if solemnized, will be regarded as valid in the country where such party is domiciled; and (d) that notice of the proposed marriage has been given at least twenty-one days and not more than three months previously, which notice has been published both at the office of the Registrar in the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate where the marriage is to be solemnized and at the Registry of the marriage district in Malaysia where each party to the marriage was last ordinarily resident and no caveat or notice of objection has been received. Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 25 (2) The procedure for solemnization and registration of marriages at a Malaysian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate shall be similar in all respects to that which applies to marriages solemnized and registered in Malaysia under this Act as if the Registrar appointed for a foreign country were a Registrar in Malaysia. (3) A marriage solemnized under this section shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be a marriage solemnized in Malaysia, and subsection 7(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to any offence under this Act, in respect of such marriage. PART IV REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES Registration 27.  The marriage of every person ordinarily resident in Malaysia and of every person resident abroad who is a citizen of or domiciled in Malaysia after the appointed date shall be registered pursuant to this Act. Appointment of Registrar General, Registrars and Assistant Registrars of Marriages 28. (1) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may appoint any public officer to be Registrar General of Marriages for the purposes of this Act who shall have general supervision and control of Registrars and of the registration of marriages under this Act and any other public officer to be Deputy Registrar General of Marriages. (2) The Minister may appoint so many public officers by name or by office, to be-- (a) Assistant Registrar General of Marriages; (b) Superintendent Registrars of Marriages; and (c) Registrars of Marriages and Deputy Registrars of Marriages for such marriage district in any State and the Federal Territory as may be specified in the appointment. (3) The Minister may, in addition, appoint by name or by office, any person whether public officer or not, to be Assistant Registrar Laws of Malaysia 26 ACT 164 of Marriages in respect of any race, clan, association, church or temple, for such marriage district and for such term as may be specified in the appointment, and every such person so appointed and similarly every Registrar, Deputy Registrar and other Assistant Registrar, shall be deemed, to be a public servant within the meaning of the Penal Code: P r o v i d e d that such appointment shall be made on the recommendation or nomination of the recognised representatives of the race, clan, the committee of management of the association or the governing authority of any religious denomination, church or temple, as the case may be. (4) The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint any member of the diplomatic staff of Malaysia in any country, either by name or by office, to be Registrar of Marriages for the purposes of this Act in that country. (5) The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, declare any area in a State and the Federal Territory to be a marriage district and define the boundaries of each district; and where an Assistant Registrar of Marriages is appointed under subsection (3), the Minister may define different areas to be marriage districts for any particular race, clan, association, church or temple. (6) The Assistant Registrar General and the Superintendent Registrar may subject to any general or special direction of the Registrar General exercise any of the powers and duties of the Registrar General conferred and imposed by this Act. Books and Registers to be kept of all marriages in Malaysia 29.  Every Registrar shall keep a marriage register and such books as are prescribed by this Act or rules made thereunder and every marriage solemnized in Malaysia by the Registrar shall immediately after the solemnization thereof be registered by the Registrar in his marriage register. Copies of entries to be sent to Registrar General 30. (1) The Registrar solemnizing the marriage shall deliver to the Registrar General the original and to the Superintendent Registrar Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 27 the duplicate of every entry made in the marriage register as attested by the parties to the marriage and by the witnesses and as signed by him. (2) All such copies shall be kept by the Registrar General and the Superintendent Registrar in such manner as may be prescribed and shall constitute the marriage registers of the Registrar General and the Superintendent Registrar respectively. Registration of foreign marriage by a person citizen of or domiciled in Malaysia 31. (1) Where any person who is a citizen of or is domiciled in Malaysia has contracted a marriage abroad, not being a marriage registered under section 26, such person shall-- (a) within six months after the date of such marriage, appear before the nearest or most conveniently available Registrar abroad; and (b) register such marriage. (1A) Where before the expiry of six months under paragraph (1)(a), either or both parties return to Malaysia and the marriage was not registered, such person shall-- (a) within six months of arrival in Malaysia, appear before any Registrar; and (b) register such marriage. (1B) A person who applies to register a marriage under subsection (1) or (1A) shall-- (a) produce to such Registrar the certificate of such marriage or such evidence either oral or documentary as may satisfy the Registrar that such marriage took place; (b) furnish such particulars as may be required by the Registrar for the due registration of such marriage; and (c) apply in the prescribed form for the registration of the marriage to be effected and subscribe the declaration therein. Laws of Malaysia 28 ACT 164 (2) A Registrar may dispense with the appearance of one of the parties to the marriage if he is satisfied that there exists good and sufficient reason for the absence of such party and in such case the entry in the marriage register shall include a statement of the reason for his or her absence. (3) Upon the registration of any marriage under this section, the Registrar shall deliver the triplicate copy of the register to the parties to the marriage and the original to the Registrar General and the duplicate to the Superintendent Registrar who shall cause such copies to be bound together to constitute the Foreign Marriages Register. (4) Where the parties to a marriage required to be registered under this section have not appeared before a Registrar within the period as prescribed in subsection (1), the marriage may, upon application to the Registrar, be registered by him on payment of such penalty as may be prescribed. Unlawful registers 32. No person other than the Registrar General or a Superintendent Registrar appointed under this Act shall-- (a) keep any book being or purporting to be a register kept in accordance with the provisions of this Act; or (b) issue to any person any document being or purporting to be a copy of a certificate of a marriage or a certificate of marriage registered by the Registrar. Voluntary registration of marriages previously solemnized under religion or custom 33. (1) Notwithstanding section 4, the parties to any marriage solemnized under any law, religion, custom or usage prior to the appointed date may, if the marriage has not been registered, apply at any time to a Registrar in the prescribed form for the registration of the marriage. (2) The Registrar may require the parties to the marriage to appear before him and to produce such evidence of the marriage, either oral or documentary, as he may require and to furnish such other particulars as may be required by him. Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 29 (3) The Registrar may on being satisfied of the truth of the statements contained in the application register the marriage by entering the particulars thereof in the marriage register prescribed for this purpose. (4) The entry of the marriage in the marriage register shall be signed by the Registrar making the entry and by both the parties to the marriage, if available, otherwise, by whichever party shall appear before the Registrar for effecting registration of the marriage. (5) Upon the registration of the marriage, the Registrar shall deliver the triplicate copy of the register to the parties to the marriage, the original to the Registrar General and the duplicate to the Superintendent Registrar. (6) The Registrar shall not register a marriage under this section if he is satisfied that the marriage is void under this Act. Legal effect of registration 34.  Nothing in this Act or the rules made thereunder shall be construed to render valid or invalid any marriage which otherwise is invalid or valid merely by reason of its having been or not having been registered. PART V PENALTIES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SOLEMNIZATION AND REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES Omission to appear before Registrar within prescribed time 35.  Any person who, being required by section 31 to appear before a Registrar, omits to do so within the prescribed time shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding one thousand ringgit or to both. Contravention of section 32 36.  Any person who contravenes section 32 shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding one thousand ringgit or to both; and for a Laws of Malaysia 30 ACT 164 second or subsequent conviction shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine not exceeding two thousand ringgit or to both. Interference with marriage Any person who uses any force or threat-- 37. (a) to compel a person to marry against his will; or (b) to prevent a person who has attained the age of twenty- one years from contracting a valid marriage, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding three thousand ringgit or to both. False oath, etc., for procuring marriage 38.  Any person who for the purpose of procuring any marriage under this Act intentionally makes any false declaration or signs any false notice or certificate required by this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding three thousand ringgit or to both. False allegation in caveat 39. (1) Any person who enters a caveat against the issue by a R e g i s t r a r of a certificate for marriage and makes any false representation in or in support of the caveat knowing or believing such representation to be false or not having reason to believe it to be true, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding three thousand ringgit or to both. (2) Any person who enters a caveat against the issue of a certificate for marriage and pretends or falsely represents himself to be a person whose consent to the marriage is required by law knowing or believing such pretence or representation to be false or not believing it to be true shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding three thousand ringgit or to both. Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 31 Unauthorized solemnization of marriages 40.  Any person who, not being authorized thereto under this Act, solemnizes or purports to solemnize any marriage, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years and to a fine not exceeding fifteen thousand ringgit. Offences relating to solemnization of marriages 41. (1) Any person who knowingly and contrary to this Act solemnizes or purports to solemnize or officiate at a marriage-- (a) without first receiving a certificate for the marriage or a licence dispensing with such certificate; (b) otherwise than in the presence of at least two credible witnesses other than the person solemnizing the marriage; or (c) after the expiration of six months from the date of the notice of marriage given under section 14, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit. (2) Any Registrar who knowingly and contrary to this Act issues any certificate for marriage-- (a) without publishing the notice of marriage as required by section 15; (b) when a caveat has been entered under section 19 without having first complied with section 20; or (c) contrary to section 16, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit. (3) Any person who marries or purports to marry or goes through a form of marriage with any person contrary to any of the provisions of Part III shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit. Laws of Malaysia 32 ACT 164 Destroying or falsifying register book Any person who by himself or another-- 42. (a) wilfully destroys or injures any register of marriages or any certificate thereout, or any part thereof or any authenticated extract therefrom; (b) falsely makes or counterfeits any part of such register or certificate; or (c) wilfully inserts any false entry in any register or certificate or authenticated extract, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years and to a fine not exceeding ten thousand ringgit. Sanction for prosecution 43.  No prosecution for an offence punishable under this Act shall be instituted except with the authority in writing of the Public Prosecutor. Correction of errors 44. (1) If the Registrar General is satisfied by statutory declaration or otherwise that any entry in a marriage register is erroneous in form or in substance, he may authorize to correct the error by entry in the margin, without altering the original entry. (2) Every marginal entry so made shall be signed and dated by the Registrar. (3) A copy of such correction shall be sent forthwith to the Registrar General or the Superintendent Registrar for a similar correction to be made in his marriage register. Inspection and search 45.  The Registrar General or the Superintendent Registrar may, on application made by any person who shall state his reason for Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 33 making the application and on payment of the prescribed fee, if he is satisfied with the reasons therefor-- (a) allow the marriage register and index kept by him to be inspected; (b) furnish the applicant with an extract of any entry in the marriage register certified under his hand and seal of office. Proof 46.  Every marriage register kept under this Act and any copy of such entry certified by the Registrar shall be prima facie evidence of the dates and acts contained in such marriage register. Damaged registers 46A. (1) The Registrar General may cause the entries of any marriage register found to be damaged, mutilated or illegible to be transferred to a new marriage register. (2) The Registrar General may-- (a) cause any or all marriage registers to be photographed on microfilms; or (b) cause particulars in any or all marriage registers to be recorded on computers or in any other manner or form he thinks fit, subject to such precautions as he considers necessary in the interest of its safety and the privacy of the information. Missing register 46B.  Where any marriage register is for any reason missing or destroyed and the Registrar General is satisfied from evidence adduced that any marriage was registered, he may cause such marriage to be re-registered. Laws of Malaysia 34 ACT 164 PART VI DIVORCE Principles of law to be applied 47.  Subject to the provisions contained in this Part, the court shall in all suits and proceedings hereunder act and give relief on principles which in the opinion of the court are, as nearly as may be, conformable to the principles on which the High Court of Justice in England acts and gives relief in matrimonial proceedings. Extent of power to grant relief 48. (1) Nothing in this Act shall authorize the court to make any decree of divorce except-- (a) where the marriage has been registered or deemed to be registered under this Act; or (b) where the marriage between the parties was contracted under a law providing that, or in contemplation of which, marriage is monogamous; and (c) where the domicile of the parties to the marriage at the time when the petition is presented is in Malaysia. (2) Nothing in this Act shall authorize the court to make any decree of judicial separation except-- (a) where the marriage has been registered or deemed to be registered under this Act; or (b) where the marriage between the parties was contracted under a law providing that, or in contemplation of which, marriage is monogamous; and (c) where both the parties to the marriage reside in Malaysia at the time of the commencement of proceedings. Additional jurisdiction in proceedings by a wife 49. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in paragraph 48(1)(c), the court shall have jurisdiction to entertain proceedings Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) 35 by a wife under this Part, although the husband is not domiciled or resident in Malaysia if-- (a) the wife has been deserted by the husband, or the husband has been deported from Malaysia under any law for the time being in force relating to the deportation of persons, and the husband was before the desertion or deportation domiciled in Malaysia; or (b) the wife is resident in Malaysia and has been ordinarily resident in Malaysia for a period of two years immediately preceding the commencement of the proceedings. (2) In any proceedings in which the High Court has jurisdiction by virtue of this section, the issues shall be determined in accordance with the law which would be applicable thereto if the parties were domiciled or resident in Malaysia.