Why more men are getting married in Thailand

Most of the Malaysian couples were from Kedah, Perlis, Perak and Kelantan.

KRABI: The number of Malaysians getting married in southern Thailand last year has increased, and among the main reasons was to practise polygamy due to opposition from wives and family members.

The Malaysian Consul-General in Songkhla, Mohd Faizal Razali said there were 3,831 marriages registered last year, up from 3,485 in 2013.

He said the statistics showed there were 20 to 25 marriages a day last year compared with 15 to 20 daily in 2013.

In January and February this year, 675 couples married in Southern Thailand.

About 80% of the marriages involved couples from Malaysia and the rest involved a Malaysian and a foreign national.

Faizal was met here today after accompanying the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Putra Faizuddin Jamalullail on his three-day working visit to Krabi province in southern Thailand since Friday.

Tuanku Syed Putra is also Islamic Religious Council of Perlis (MAIPs) president.

Mohd Faizal said the majority of Malaysian couples who married in southern Thailand were from Kedah, Perlis, Perak and Kelantan, but the number did not include those marrying via services of sydicates.

He said syndicates charged between RM5,000 and RM7,000 for the “services”, adding that they (syndicates) had even claimed that RM2,000 was payment to certain officials in the consulate.

“I deny this allegation although victims of syndicates did not complain to the consulate as they depend on their agent. They only realise they have been cheated after returning to Malaysia,” he noted.

Mohd Faizal said wedding costs in the five recognised provinces of Yala, Pattani, Songkhla, Narathiwat, and Satun was between RM400 and RM500 only, and each application was screened by the consulate.

– BERNAMA