MORE couples, including those who are planning for a second marriage, are considering travelling across the Malaysia-Thailand border now that the government has eased international travel restrictions, Kosmo! reported.
A marriage agent, known as Azli, who handles such applications, has been receiving more than five phone calls per day since last week from couples who want to get married quickly.
“The calls increased after the government made the recent announcement,” he said.
Previously, travelling abroad was limited to emergency matters, business trips and official government affairs, and Malaysians had to apply through the MyTravelPass.
With the relaxation, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said those who wished to go abroad for non-official activities such as tourism could proceed.
“The most common questions I get from couples are related to procedures to get married in Thailand and the cost,” said Azli.
“Most of them are from Kelantan, based on the dialect spoken over the phone.”
However, Azli urged these couples to wait a little longer for the official announcement from Thailand regarding the reopening of the border.
Another agent from Ipoh, Ahmad Dali, revealed that at least 30 couples residing in Parit Buntar, Selama and Kerian are just waiting for the right time to get married there.“They prefer to go to Thailand as the polygamy procedures in Perak are strict and will take a long time.
“Many can no longer wait after more than a year due to restrictions following the pandemic,” he said.
He said many would drive to Bukit Kayu Hitam or Padang Besar before crossing over to Songkhla using their agents’ cars.
According to Ahmad Dali, the couples also want him to be a guide there.
Before the pandemic, he assisted more than 20 couples who married in Thailand.
“Some are married men who wanted a second wife, as well as university students who did not get the blessings from their families as they have yet to complete their studies,” he said.
> Singer Misha Omar has postponed plans to have another child, saying that she wants to focus on her career, Harian Metro reported.
Misha, whose real name is Samihah @ Aisah Omar, said she would be celebrating her 19th anniversary as a musician and artiste.
“We all have big dreams that need to be realised. Similarly, I have been waiting for the chance to hold a solo concert with the National Symphony Orchestra.
“Every musician has his own accomplishment in his career like the two decades milestone by Dayang Nurfaizah.
“So I want a similar opportunity but I have to make sacrifices. After a discussion with my husband, we decided to put more focus on my career which I truly love,” said the 39-year-old.
She gave birth to her firstborn Muhammad Idris Ezzwaz five years ago and has another son, Muhammad Adam Emir, whom she adopted 15 years ago.
● The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.