KUCHING: Non-Muslims can only marry one spouse according to Malaysia's civil and customary laws, despite the claims of some to have wed more than one, says a Sarawak minister.
Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said this in connection with the case of a local man who purportedly married two women at a wedding dinner here on Monday (March 12).
"We have laws governing civil marriage and Muslim marriage, while in Sarawak we also have native customary marriages.
"According to our legal system, non-Muslims can only marry one spouse in a civil marriage or native customary marriage," she said.
Fatimah also said she was informed by the National Registration Department (NRD) that the event was not a legal marriage ceremony but a dinner reception.
"I can't say much as this matter is out of my ministry's jurisdiction," she added.
Photos of the wedding dinner showing the groom with two brides have created a stir on social media.
The trio were seen cutting a wedding cake and pouring champagne in the images, while another showed the groom linking arms with both brides in matching wedding gowns.
Meanwhile, Sin Chew Daily reported that the groom has not been summoned for questioning by police.
Kuching police chief Asst Supt Ahsmon Bajah said police had not received any reports on the purported wedding.
