No go for marriage registration

Sean says that all wedding receptions at his restaurant in Lip Sin Complex, Penang, had to be cancelled or postponed during the MCO period. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

AS THE movement control order (MCO) comes into effect again, marriage registrations and wedding receptions are once again put on hold as dates and plans are postponed.

At Penang Chinese Town Hall in George Town, deputy registrar of marriage Lim Choo Hooi said 13 couples who were scheduled to register their marriage during the MCO period had to postpone their registration.

“National Registration Department has directed that marriage registrations are not allowed so couples were required to postpone to a later date.

“But despite many having to postpone their registration, we did not receive any complaints. The couples were very understanding.

“Some did ask whether if they could register online but when we told them we do not provide that type of registration, they were okay with it.

“After the experience many had seen from last year, the couples were all open to postponing their registration, ” he said.

One of Sean’s employees putting up their Chinese New Year 2021 menu for takeaways at the restaurant.

At Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society, its office also confirmed that no marriage registrations were allowed during the MCO and that couples had willingly postponed their big day.

Meanwhile, owners of restaurants and businesses catering to wedding receptions are suffering from another hit following postponements and cancellations.

At a Chinese restaurant in Gelugor, manager Sean Lim said all wedding reception bookings they received for the MCO period either had to be cancelled or postponed.

“Some of our customers postponed their wedding receptions, while others cancelled outright as they are unsure of the situation.

The National Registration Department has directed that marriage registrations will not be allowed during the MCO, says Lim.

“In the case of cancellations, we do not refund their deposits and instead convert them to cash vouchers for customers to come here and dine in future, ” he said.

Sean said while they expect events to be allowed as usual after the MCO, they were worried that people will not be open to organising functions.

“This is especially so for couples holding wedding receptions.

“Last time, they used to book 10 to 20 tables for the entire hall but due to economic situation now, many are saving up and only booking a few tables, no more than 10.

“As the economy is bad and people are saving up, wedding receptions are not held on a big scale anymore, ” he added.

At a catering service in Jalan Hijau, owner Abdul Rahim Mohd Razak said many of their events, including wedding dinner catering orders were cancelled and postponed.

“Right now, we are closing down our centre temporarily and diversifying into courier services for a living.

“We catered solely to wedding receptions and functions and we relied on that to earn a living.

Staff members cleaning up their empty restaurant during the MCO.

“Now that all social gatherings are prohibited, we must find something else to rely on.

“We have not even recovered from the various rounds of MCO last year and we are affected again, ” added Abdul Rahim.