‘Jom Kahwin’ as 100 couples marry

Mr and Mrs: Newly-wed couples waving atop of the KL Hop On Hop Off bus on its way to Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: A hundred newly-wed couples were feted during the Walimatul Urus Perdana organised by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) at Dataran Merdeka.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, who officiated at the ceremony held in conjunction with the MAIWP Carnival 2023, said the couples were all asnaf (tithe recipients) or converts.

He said all the couples received RM2,000 along with a set of wedding attire and jewellery through the MAIWP marriage assistance scheme.

“MAIWP assisted a total of 412 beneficiaries, with an expenditure of RM1.08mil under the scheme last year,” he told a press conference after the ceremony.

Earlier in his speech, Mohd Na’im also launched the Jom Kahwin campaign in the Federal Territories, which aims to encourage more people, especially young couples in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, to start a family.

“The most important basis for this campaign is for them to be given knowledge and appreciation on their responsibilities and roles in starting a family,” he said.

The couples were ferried on the KL Hop On Hop Off bus around Jalan Raja Laut before being seated on the wedding dais at Dataran Merdeka.

Meanwhile, the marriage solemnisation of two couples was also performed by Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) director Datuk Mohd Ajib Ismail during the event.

MAIWP chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Daud Bakar also said his office was planning to organise this event annually.

Also present at the event were the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Saraya Arbi and MAIWP acting chief executive Mohd Nizam Yahya. — Bernama