KOTA BARU: The Kelantan government has denied the existence of contract marriages between local women and foreigners in the state.
This has come in response to the recent New Straits Times report, 'Kelantan women enter contract marriages', published on Jan 8, of which it dismisses as inaccurate.
A statement from the state Islamic Development, Dakwah, Information and Regional Relations office said the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department denies the existence of such marriages.
"The department has confirmed to the state government that no contract marriage exists in Kelantan. The shariah law enforcement division has never received complaints about contract marriages in this state," it said.
"However, the department learned that reports by the New Straits Times and Harian Metro newspapers titled 'Kelantan women enter contract marriages' and 'Kahwin kontrak dengan lelaki asing untuk elak stigma' (by Harian Metro) had later been shared and circulated widely on social media claiming the existence of contract marriages in Kelantan," said the statement.
The statement added that based on the statistics of marriages with foreigners in the state recorded by the religious department, a total of 670 marriages were registered from 2019 until last year.
"These marriages were solemnised and are within bounds of normal procedures of the religious department and not on the terms of a contract marriage, as has been sensationalised.
"The state government asks the public not to be influenced by media reports on the existence of contract marriages or 'Mut'ah' marriages in Kelantan as it is not legal in terms of Islamic law," it said.
The statement then advised the media to be more careful when using terms in reporting, so as not to confuse or mislead people.
It was previously reported by the NST that women in Kelantan, mainly widows or spinsters, are turning to foreign men to take on as spouses to escape the stigma of being unmarried.
These women, the majority of whom are financially secure, would offer their potential partners a monthly allowance, accommodation, a car or motorcycle, as well as business opportunities.
Immigration data obtained by the NST showed that in 2022, 17,137 applications were made by Kelantan residents for long-term social visit passes for their foreign spouses.
The number decreased slightly to 17,036 last year.
From the numbers, an average of 12,000 applicants were women applying for passes for their foreign husbands annually.
Immigration data also showed that the majority of foreign spouses in Kelantan comprised Thais, followed by Bangladeshis and Myanmar men.
The NST also spoke to an immigration source who said that 'kahwin kontrak' (contract marriage) was not a new practice.
These contract marriages are typically set for anywhere between three to seven years, the source added. The husbands are then tasked with managing the wives' businesses or a new venture.