Malaysia probes alleged secret second marriage in Thailand by Kelantan woman

MALAYSIA: Religious authorities in Malaysia’s northern state of Kelantan have launched an investigation following allegations that a 30-year-old woman entered into a secret second marriage in neighbouring Thailand while still legally married to her first husband.

The case came to light after the woman’s sister-in-law, who identified herself as Ekin Derahim, published a Facebook post accusing her brother’s wife of marrying another man in Songkhla more than a year ago without the family’s knowledge.

The post, which was shared thousands of times, claimed the woman had been leading a double life for months.

According to the allegation, the woman allegedly stayed alternately between two homes about 19 kilometres apart in Kelantan while her husband was at work. The family reportedly discovered the alleged second marriage only on December 6, after villagers confronted the woman at another man’s residence.

“If the villagers and we had not caught her at the other man’s house, we would never have known how long she planned to deceive us,” Ekin wrote.

Religious and Legal Scrutiny

Kelantan’s Islamic Religious Affairs Department confirmed on Sunday that it had recorded a statement from the woman at the Tanah Merah district religious affairs office as part of its ongoing probe.

The controversy touches on sensitive religious and legal issues in Malaysia, where Islamic family law governs Muslim marriages. Under the law, Muslim women are prohibited from marrying another man while still legally married, and doing so may constitute a criminal offence.

While Islamic law allows Muslim men to practise polygamy, it requires prior approval from a sharia court. Marriages conducted without such approval — whether domestically or abroad — may result in fines, jail terms of up to six months, or both, depending on state legislation.

Disputed Divorce Claim Adds Confusion

Complicating matters further, local newspaper cited an unverified account from a man believed to be the woman’s first husband, who claimed he had divorced her verbally in January 2022 but failed to report it to religious authorities.

In Malaysia, a verbal talaq must be validated by a sharia court to be legally recognised. A single declaration of talaq does not immediately dissolve a marriage permanently, as reconciliation remains possible during a waiting period.

Authorities have yet to confirm whether the alleged divorce was legally valid.

Children’s Welfare and Public Reaction

The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development said it is monitoring the case, particularly concerning the welfare of any children involved. Minister Nancy Shukri stressed that while religious matters fall under state jurisdiction, her ministry would step in once a full report is received.

Online reactions have been intense, with many Malaysians expressing anger and disbelief. Some criticised the alleged second marriage as religiously invalid, while others described the case as highly unusual, especially given Kelantan’s conservative reputation.

Cross-Border Marriage Trend Under Spotlight

The case has reignited debate over Malaysians crossing into southern Thailand to bypass domestic religious and legal requirements. Thai religious officials previously reported a 40 per cent drop in Malaysian marriages there after tighter border enforcement in December.

Despite the decline, hundreds of Malaysians — many seeking polygamous unions — still marry in Thailand each year, underscoring the persistent challenges faced by authorities on both sides of the border.