M’sian marriages in southern Thailand down 40% after cross-border ban

PETALING JAYA: The number of Malaysian couples getting married in southern Thailand has fallen by 40% since the introduction of a cross-border ban through illegal entry points on Dec 1.

Abdul Aziz Che Mamat, deputy president of the Narathiwat Islamic Council, said that many Malaysian couples had cancelled their trips due to stricter border checks.

He said that last year, over 300 Malaysian couples tied the knot in this part of Thailand, with most coming from Kelantan and Terengganu.

“However, since the ban on crossing borders through illegal routes, many Malaysians have either decided not to visit or chosen to go directly to Songkhla.

“Previously, we would have four to five couples getting married here daily, but now it’s down to just one or two couples a day,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying.

Abdul Aziz also said that most Malaysian men coming to Narathiwat for marriage were seeking polygamous unions, with many being over 30 years old, including civil servants.

“For us, conducting the marriage ceremony is not an issue as long as the couples adhere to the regulations and provide all the required documents,” he said.

Abdul Aziz also expressed hope that the Malaysian consulate in Songkhla could process the marriage documents within a day to avoid delays.

Separately, he announced that 30 committee members had been appointed by the Islamic council to oversee marriages between Malaysian and Thai couples.