SIBU: Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Richard Malanjum yesterday said it was about time to review the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act, 1976.
“So far, there is no clear decision made by the Malaysian court on prenuptial agreement,” he said when launching a book titled ‘Malaysian Law on Division of Matrimonial Assets’ authored by lawyer Wee Wui Kiat.
“The time has come to change. It needs to be updated and I think it is good to look at it.
“The Act is for non-Muslims with the exemption of the natives,” he added.
He also said even among the natives, issues over properties had become very important and problems would arise if they were not addressed.
On the new book, he described it as a landmark on matrimonial assets in Malaysia, and expressed hope that people in Peninsular Malaysia would buy and read it.
“There is a perception that says nothing good ever comes from East Malaysia.
“We need to change that perception and I hope that this newly launched book will have a market,” he added.
Malanjum advised judges and lawyers to be firm and very careful when dealing with cases on family law so that justice would be really served.
“I say this because any decision later will have impact on the lives of those concerned,” he added.
He said the subject was not easy to be dealt with and could be emotionally draining for the judges and lawyers.
Malanjum also hoped more lawyers would come forward to write law books for the sake of the new generation.
Wee, an Australian law graduate, in his address said it took him three years of research to write it.
The book, published by Thompson SEA Reuters Legal, discusses in depth the relevant provisions of the main legislation governing this area of law in relation to non-Muslims such as the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 and Divorce and Matrimonial Proceedings Rules 1980.
Also present at the launching ceremony was SEA Thomson Reuters Legal publishing director Rachel Jaques.