(1) When the court has to form an opinion as to the relationship of one person to another, the opinion expressed by conduct as to the existence of such relationship of any person who as a member of the family or otherwise has special means of knowledge on the subject, is a relevant fact.
(2) Such opinion shall not be sufficient to prove a marriage in prosecutions under section 494, 495 or 498 of the Penal Code [Act 574].
ILLUSTRATIONS
(a) The question is whether A and B were married.
The fact that they were usually received and treated by their friends as husband and wife is relevant.
(b) The question is whether A was a legitimate son of B.
The fact that A was always treated as such by members of the family is relevant.
Malay text (authoritative)
Bila pendapat mengenai hubungan berkaitan
(1) Apabila mahkamah perlu membuat sesuatu pendapat tentang hubungan seseorang dengan seseorang yang lain, pendapat yang dilahirkan melalui kelakuan tentang kewujudan hubungan itu oleh mana-mana orang yang, sebagai anggota keluarga itu atau selainnya, mempunyai cara yang khas bagi mengetahui perkara itu, ialah suatu fakta berkaitan.
(2) Pendapat sedemikian tidaklah mencukupi bagi membuktikan sesuatu perkahwinan dalam pendakwaan di bawah seksyen 494, 495 atau 498 Kanun Keseksaan [Akta 574].
(a) Soalnya adalah sama ada A dan B telah berkahwin.
Fakta bahawa mereka biasanya diterima dan diperlakukan oleh sahabat mereka sebagai suami isteri adalah berkaitan.
(b) Soalnya adalah sama ada A ialah anak B yang sah taraf.
Fakta bahawa A sentiasa diperlakukan sedemikian oleh anggota keluarganya adalah berkaitan.
Text as at 1 May 2017 (LOM reprint); amendments made after that date may not be incorporated.
Source: Laws of Malaysia, Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia (lom.agc.gov.my). Not a copy of the Gazette printed by the Government Printer (Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967, s 61).
