Bogus marriage agents a problem

NARATHIWAT: For less than RM2,500, Malaysian couples can get a marriage certificate in Thailand. That’s how easy it is to get hitched – even for those wanting a second wife.

And the number of Malaysians getting married in southern Thailand is growing.

However, a local nikah kahwin (marriage agent) warned Malaysian couples, especially Muslims, that they would face endless problems if they hire illegal agents to facilitate their marriage solemnisation.

The agent, who requested anonymity, said those who seek illegal marriage services will go through the same “akad nikah” (marriage ceremony) but using a “kadi” (an official to solemnise the marriage) unrecognised by the authorities.

“The ceremony arranged by illegal agents is usually done in rural villages along border towns. In some cases, they will abscond with your money.

“They also act as syndicate members offering various services such as transport and accommodation,” the agent said.

A textile trader who wished to be known only as Azmin experienced this when he got married last year. He paid RM2,000 to a syndicate member who disappeared without providing a valid marriage certificate.

“We were taken to a village in Sungai Golok and solemnised before a kadi. But after agreeing to provide us with a marriage certificate for our ‘akad nikah’ back in Malaysia, the agent vanished without a trace,” he said.

Azmin said he later sought a friend’s help to get solemnised again in Narathiwat and, this time, with a kadi appointed by the Thailand Islamic Religious Council.

The Malaysian consul-general in Songkhla, Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi, said they are aware of the existence of a syndicate preying on couples wanting to get married in border towns.

“It’s not easy to track down these syndicate members. After the wedding ceremony, the illegal agents will not come to the consulate to submit their client’s documents for authentication,” he said.

Ahmad Fahmi advised Malaysian couples to engage only a kadi recognised by the Islamic Religious Council in southern Thailand.

“Malaysian couples must submit their documentation at the consulate to ensure it (their marriage) is valid and to avoid being conned by syndicate members,” he said.

Ahmad Fahmi said once the documents are endorsed by the consulate, the couples can register their marriage back in Malaysia.

“This is very important because if they fail to do so, although their marriage may be considered valid from a syariah perspective, problems may arise later when their child cannot enrol in school or their child’s status cannot be determined in the future,” he added.

Ahmad Fahmi said that every month, an average of about 250 to 300 couples from Malaysia submit their marriage documents at the consulate after getting hitched in Thailand.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned agent said the akad nikah ceremony will be conducted by a kadi in Malay.

“Once registered, it will be recognised by the Thai Islamic religious authorities. The marriage vow is similar to marriage ceremonies in Malaysia.

“After the proceedings, couples will be taken straight to the consulate in Songkhla,” he said.

The agent said the following day, the couple will get a confirmation letter and once all the procedures are completed and verified, they can return to Malaysia as a married couple.

They have to pay a fee of between RM1,500 and RM2,500.

A check on social media found several agents offering packages of between RM2,000 and RM4,000 for couples seeking to marry in southern Thailand, namely in Yala, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat.

“In the past five years, I have provided such services to more than 1,000 couples from Malaysia, legally. Our role is to ease the process of the nikah and manage all the administration procedures for them at the Islamic religious councils in the five southern provinces in Thailand.

“However, the presence of illegal agents has indirectly hampered our work and tarnished our image,” the agent said.

This reporter witnessed several Malaysian men taking part in akad nikah ceremonies during a visit to Narathiwat recently.

A couple who wanted to be known only as Salleh and Haliza were spotted leaving the Thailand Islamic Religious Council compound after their marriage ceremony.

“Our nikah went well without any problems. This is my second wife and we decided to do it here as it is less of a hassle compared with Malaysia,” said Salleh.

“I engaged an authorised agent who helped us get solemnised at the Narathiwat Islamic Religious Council office.”

The 50-year-old businessman said he paid RM1,600 to the agent for all the documentation and ceremony.

“As long as we get solemnised by a proper kadi and register our nikah in Malaysia, we won’t have any problems later,” he said.