Ex-beauty queen files second application to strike out divorce petition

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian ex-beauty queen Puan Sri Pauline Chai Siew Phin has filed a second application to strike out her husband and multi-millionaire Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng's divorce petition.
Chai's lawyer New Sin Yew told reporters that the first application was filed in March last year while the second, on June 20 this year.
He said the second application was filed on the grounds that Khoo's divorce petition had become academic following the decision of the court in London to issue a decree nisi or conditional order on Jan 7.
Khoo's lawyer, Goh Siu Lin said the court in United Kingdom (London) had ruled that the marriage between the couple was over but according to the law in Malaysia, they are still legally married.
Chai filed for divorce in a London court on Feb 14, 2013, seeking £500 million (RM2.75 billion) in alimony.
The former Miss Malaysia/International 1969 wants the court in England to decide the case as she has not been living in Malaysia since 1980 and is domiciled in England.
Khoo, 77, wants the case to be heard in the Malaysian court.
Family High Court judge Datuk Siti Mariah Ahmad in chambers today set July 25 for case management of Chai's second application.
On Nov 28, 2014, the Family High Court here ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear Khoo's divorce petition, and the decision was maintained by the Court of Appeal on June 19, 2015.
The Federal Court on April 28 also allowed Khoo to proceed with his divorce petition against Chai at the Family High Court here.
The couple married in 1970 and have five grown up children.
Khoo is chairman of the international Malayan United Industries Bhd and owns 44% of U.K. fashion-and-furnishings retailer Laura Ashley Holdings. — Bernama