KOTA BARU: The Narathiwat Islamic Religious Council has uncovered several cases involving Malaysian women attempting to deceive its religious officers by submitting forged divorce or death certificates to remarry new Malaysian partners in southern Thailand.
Council deputy president Abdul Aziz Che Mamat said such cases have been detected over the past few years, with most of the individuals involved hailing from Kelantan.
“We have recorded numerous instances where Malaysian women submitted falsified documents claiming they were either divorced or widowed to facilitate remarriage in southern Thailand,” he said.
According to Abdul Aziz, some women went as far as altering names and dates on official documents, including tampering with divorce certificates, to bypass the marriage vetting process.
He stressed that the council treats such matters seriously and will immediately halt the solemnisation process upon detecting any fraudulent activity.
“There were cases where my officers, unaware of the deception, allowed the marriage to proceed.
“However, the registration was later revoked after the actual husband came forward to confirm that he was still alive and they were not divorced,” he added.
Abdul Aziz warned that such dishonest practices could jeopardise the legal status and future of children born from these marriages — particularly in matters relating to identity documentation, citizenship, and inheritance.
“These children could face complications when registering their births, enrolling in school, or proving their legitimacy later in life,” he said.
In response, the council has tightened procedures for cross-border marriages, especially those involving foreign nationals.
He noted that recent efforts to curb illegal and questionable marriages have yielded positive results.
“Cases involving syndicate-driven marriages and underage unions have significantly declined thanks to improved cooperation and greater awareness among couples following our outreach and educational briefings,” he said.
He added that previously, the council dealt with numerous cases involving syndicates, underage girls, and pregnant women.
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