A 71-year-old man has asked the High Court to order his three sons to take care of him, local media reported yesterday.

Former steam-roller driver A Kuppusamy wants his sons, who are in their 30s and 40s, to provide food and clothing and allow him to live in the family home.

He told the court he had provided for his wife and six children — three sons and three daughters — from the time of his marriage in 1957 until he retired in 1986.

They had since then locked him out of the family home several times, finally sending him to an old age home in March 2000 and refusing to give him food when he left after five months.

The sons told the court their father had mistreated them, but he said he had only been "strict" because he had to bring up the family on just RM500 a month.

The court has not yet ruled on the issue. — AFP