KOTA BARU: Many Malaysian couples, including those with 'Datuk' titles, have fallen prey to fake imams from the border marriage syndicates just because they pretend to be pious and wear robes and kopiah. These fake imams normally work with marriage syndicates that operate along the Malaysia/Thai border, particularly in Kelantan.
This was disclosed by Narathiwat Islamic Council Department's vice-president Abdul Aziz Che Mamat to New Straits Times when met at his office recently. He said these fake imams are very good at disguising to attract Malaysian couples who want to get married.
as they are attracted to these imams after seeing them wearing the robe, the kopiah, and the way they confidently explained to them the marriage procedures. "Everyone knows, many couples from Malaysia as well as other countries, especially those having problems getting married, choose to tie the knot in Southern Thailand, including in Narathiwat," said Abdul Aziz.
"However, the couple's marriage ended in legal trouble when they were told that their marriage was not valid and the imam who solemnized the marriage is fake and not authorised," he added. Those who were cheated by these fake imams were from various backgrounds, including professionals and politicians."
"These groups are willing to spend huge money on the syndicates without checking the background of the imams. "Although the majority of them were charged double by the syndicates, they are willing to pay as long as they can get married," he added.
When asked whether the number of Malaysian couples being cheated by the fake imam is high, he said the situation was still under control as those who fell prey to these syndicates decrease from time to time. "An average of 30 Malaysian couples have tied the knot at the department office each month," he said.
"Those who were cheated by these fake imams were from various backgrounds including professionals and politicians," he said. On another note, Aziz said an average of 30 Malaysian couples have tied the knot at the department's office each month.
"They were from various states in Malaysia such as Kelantan, Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur. "The 'akad nikah' ceremony will normally take about 30 minutes to complete and the couples will get their certificates on the same day," he said.
He said Malaysian couples would normally come to the department to tie the knot on weekends and school holidays. "The department will be packed with Malaysian couples on Sundays and during long public holidays," he said.
He said there are about 30 council's committee members in Narathiwat province who were given the authority to marry Muslim couples. "These 30 members are also authorised imams at their respective sub-provinces and they are allowed to marry Malaysian couples," he added.