ALOR STAR: The state government has taken proactive measures to identify Kedahans who wed in southern Thailand but have yet to register their marriage with the local religious authority.
This is to safeguard the interest of women and curb the issue of stateless children, State Welfare, Women and Community Development, and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Halimaton Shaadiah Saad said.
The state government has sought the cooperation of southern Islamic Religious Council from Pantai, Yala and Songkhla to share names of Kedahans who solemnised their marriage in the neighbouring country.
"The problem arises when Malaysian couples marry in Thailand but do not register their marriages with the State Islamic Religious Council. This results in their children not being able to register with the National Registration Department.
"This leaves the wife with no rights in case of divorce, and both the wife and child have no inheritance rights from father or husband.
"The children also cannot attend government schools, which is deeply concerning. They also cannot marry locally due to lack of identification documents," she said in her winding up speech at the state assembly sitting in Wisma Darul Aman here today.
Halimaton said that many Muslim couples opt to solemnise their marriages in Thailand due to fear of judgment.
"Couples who go to marry there (southern Thailand) include first time or unmarried couples, not just those wanting to get into polygamous marriages.
"They are afraid to reveal this and can lead to future social complications. Thus, ensuring these marriages are officially registered is a step towards safeguarding the rights of women and children under the relevant laws," she added.
Halimaton was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman (PN-To kai) regarding the phenomenon of Malaysian Muslim marriages in southern Thailand.
Commenting further, Halimaton assured that Thai authorities will assist the state government in obtaining a list of Kedah residents who have solemnised their marriages in southern Thailand.
"From the data we will obtain, the State Islamic Religious Affairs Department can then issue orders to order the couples involved to register their marriage with the State Islamic Religious Council," she added.
