A 22-year-old Malaysian has gone to court in an attempt to force his father to pay for his education at a British university, the national Bernama news agency reported yesterday.

Foo Dui Geng (right) is suing his father Foo Woo Keat in the High Court in Ipoh for RM81,421 for fees for two semesters at the Nottingham Trent University and living expenses for a year, the agency said.

The court heard that the father divorced Foo's mother in 1987 and paid monthly maintenance of RM400 until taking him on in his factory at the age of 19 at a salary of RM600.

Foo said in his affidavit he was certain that if his parents were not divorced his father, "like any sensible parent", would have continued to support him until completion of tertiary education, Bernama reported.

The court ordered both parties to provide written submissions before next Monday, promising a decision on the same day. - AFP