Section 3

If any person having sufficient means neglects or refuses to maintain or contribute to the maintenance of his wife or any legitimate child unable to maintain itself, a

Court upon due proof thereof may order such person to make a monthly allowance to any person named therein for the maintenance of his wife or such child as aforesaid in proportion to the means of such person as to the Court seems reasonable.

If any person having sufficient means neglects or refuses to maintain or contribute to maintain his illegitimate child unable to maintain itself, a Court upon due proof thereof may order such person to make such monthly allowance not exceeding fifty ringgit in the whole as to the Court seems reasonable.

Such allowance shall be payable from the date of the order or, if so ordered, from the date of the application for maintenance:

 In force 1st August, 1959—see G.N.S. 74/1959.

4

Provided that the Court may, for special reasons which shall be recorded and having regard to the means of the parties, order the payment of a lump sum by way of arrears in respect of any prior period but not exceeding twelve times the amount of any allowance ordered under subsection (1) or (2).

Power to order interim payments where application for maintenance is adjourned.