Songkhla Marriage Packages - Are They Legitimate?
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 13 February 2014 08:46
- Written by Siti Nur Sarah Mohd Khir
Thailand is often the last resort whenever Malay couples wish to opt for polygamy..GREAT news for husbands interested in polygamy! Stop worrying if your bid to marry another is rejected by your first wife.
Thanks to a local company, you can now look for your second wife in the south of Thailand through the internet.
This scenario may sound funny or is bad news for all first wives in the country. But the truth is it is really happening.
The phenomena of illegal marriages in southern Thailand are common among Malays in the peninsular. We often hear news of celebrities marrying in Thailand.
Not many people actually realise how easy it is to arrange a marriage in Thailand.
Malaysian Digest’s investigation uncovered more than 10 websites offering marriage services in the south of Thailand. What’s more astonishing is that these companies are active and operational in Kuala Lumpur.
Among the packages advertised in these websites were outlandish-sounding options such as “Matrimony Management Services”, “Marriage in Siam”, “Elopement Marriages” and “Polygamy Packages Using Islamic Marriage Officer in Thailand”.
To know more about the services, we enquired on a few of the companies posing as a couple eager to be married.
Most are quick to claim that they were a legitimate company yet none displayed their company’s registration licence details on their websites. But their websites does say that they are “Recognised by the Government of Malaysia”.
Couples are required to gather at Bukit Kayu Hitam before being transported to Songkhla.Affordable Packages
Out of 5 websites that we contacted by phone, only one answered our call after several attempts were made.
Our call was answered by a person who wants to be known as Ridwan, who nonchalantly proceeded to explain to us every procedure in the marriage package offered. He sounds like he’s done this before.
He even points out that the packages he offered is cheaper than others. Also that it is a complete package and that it has the Malaysian Consulate’s proof of validity.
“We don’t require any deposit payment. All payments can be made at the date of matrimony.
“You will only need to pay the RM1,700 when you arrive at Bukit Kayu Hitam (the border town of Malaysia-Thailand). When you get there we will arrange everything, including Visa and other documentation,” the man assured us.
When we asked why we had to assemble in Kedah, Ridwan said it was because many of his clients use Bukit Kayu Hitam as a point of assembly.
“Yesterday there were three couples and the number will increase come weekend,” he said with confidence.
We did not stop there. We made a call to another website-based agency.
This time, the agency in question did not answer but instead we got an SMS message from the agency. The agent said he was busy at a seminar and will correspond with us via SMS only.
We told the agent that we were interested in the agency’s package and would like to speak with the agent through the phone.
Then, we had a shocking revelation. As it turns out, the agent was the same person as the previous agency we contacted. It appears that this individual’s modus operandi was creating different websites to advertise the same marriage packages.
Using the same name as before – Ridwan – the agent became a little hesitant in answering our queries, perhaps realising that something is amiss with us.
But he proceeded to tell about the packages offered anyway.
This is one of the sites offering the service.
This is one of the sites offering the service.
This time, the package includes transportation from Bukit Kayu Hitam and over the border of Malaysia-Thailand, consultation services over important documents, passports, hotel accommodation and meals to the end destination in Narathiwat, Songkhla.
He also said that from Songkhla, the couples will be ushered to be married at the Songkhla Islamic Council’s office (MAIS) or the Phatthalung Islamic Council’s office in Thailand. According to Ridwan, both of the Islamic Councils are verified by the Department of Islamic Advancement of Malaysia (JAKIM).
What’s more fantastic is that he claimed that the marriage certificate issued by MAIS will then be legitimised by the Malaysian Consulate in Songkhla.
“The Malaysian Consulate will make sure that all marriage certificates of Malaysian couples eloping to the south of Thailand become a legitimate document,” Ridwan explained.
Business Partner
Ridwan said that after the marriage has been validated and verified, the couples will be asked to return to Bukit Kayu Hitam where they may go back to their respective vehicles parked at the border complex.
“The married couples will then be sorted out by ‘Salleh’ – I will not be there,” admits Ridwan, who said any unexpected matters will be dealt by an individual by the name of Salleh at the border.
When we enquired further, Ridwan seemed like he did not want to continue the conversation. He instead asked us to visit his website or his office, located in Subang if we wanted further information.
Quick and Easy Marriage Services for All
As shocking as it sounds, many couples who have trouble seeking their parent’s permission to marry have used these services as an easy way out.
These agencies even offered marriage services for students.
According to the information on Ridwan’s website, Thailand is an ideal location for couples in Malaysia to get a quick and easy way to be married. Couples are even encouraged to document the Thailand marriage procedure on video so that it may be used for evidence here in front of a Syariah Court judge for validation.
Our attempts to get the views from JAIS on the validity of the Thai marriage packages were unsuccessful.
But according to JAKIM, marriages outside of Malaysia are lawful on condition that they satisfy the rules of matrimony within Islam.
In fact, they said if the marriage solemnisation is carried out by a legitimate Islamic marriage officer of a certain country’s jurisdiction, it is deemed to be a valid marriage.
-mD
