Datuk Titles Make Up Over 50% of Malaysians Who Cross Border to Get Married in Narathiwat
According to a recent report by NST, men with "Datuk" titles make up over 50% of Malaysians who cross the Malaysia-Thailand border for marriage purposes in Narathiwat due to lack of permission from their first wives. The issue has sparked debate online about whether or not this practice should be allowed without prior consent from all parties involved
Dec. 25, 2022 4:26AM
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In a recent report by the New Straits Times (NST), it was revealed that men with “Datuk” titles make up over 50% of Malaysians who cross the Malaysia-Thailand border to get married in Narathiwat. This is according to the Narathiwat Islamic Religious Council, which says this is because they could not get permission from their first wives. The council said that most of these marriages were conducted without any legal documentation and were done in secret. The men involved would usually pay for all expenses related to the marriage ceremony, including travel costs and accommodation. The council also noted that many of these marriages are short-lived, as they are not legally binding and can be easily dissolved. This means that when the man returns home, he will not have any legal obligations towards his second wife or children born out of this union. In addition, the council warned against such marriages as they may lead to social problems such as polygamy and bigamy. They urged people who are considering getting married abroad to seek proper advice from religious authorities before doing so. The NST report has sparked a debate on social media about whether or not it is acceptable for men with “Datuk” titles to marry multiple times without informing their first wives or seeking permission from them beforehand. Some have argued that it is wrong for anyone to enter into a marriage without informing their partner while others believe it should be allowed if both parties agree on it beforehand. Regardless of one’s opinion on this matter, it is clear that more needs to be done in order to ensure people are aware of the potential consequences of entering into such unions without proper consultation and consent from all parties involved.