Newlyweds Nationwide Get Special Treatment on 12.12.12

GEORGE TOWN: The State Registration Department (NRD) here organised a special marriage registration ceremony for 12 bridal couples in conjunction with today's unique date of 12.12.12.

State NRD director, Sariff Ayob said the couples were registered by three department officials and were presented with souvenirs during the ceremony themed 'One heart One Soul'.

"We usually hold special ceremonies on special dates such as these every year," he said today.

Meanwhile, happy couple Erwan Sutanto Tjin, 29 and his wife Goh Ee Jye, 25, said: "The date is very special and symbolic to us as we got into a serious relationship in December last year."

L. Joshua, 23 and S. Jennitha, 25, said, "We waited almost two years for this date. The special ceremony by NRD is a pleasant surprise," adding that they were very lucky.

The Penang Cititel Hotel, Penang Chinese Town Hall, Island Chinese Business Hall and De Santia Bridal House also celebrated a group of 20 bridal couples with a rickshaw parade around town before registering their marriages at NRD.

In JOHOR BARU, 55 multi-racial bridal couples were feted in a 1Malaysia Bridal programme at Tasik Merdeka in conjunction with today's unique date.

"We chose 12, 2012 as a theme for this ceremony and a symbol for the 1Malaysia weddings," said Theng Chuan Tan Clan Association president Datuk Tan Liang Soong.

The association jointly organised the programme with the Johor Baru Municipal Council and it was officiated by Mayor Burhan Amin. Also present was Johor Baru MP Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad.

In KUALA LUMPUR, 16 young couples around Gombak chose to have a mass wedding ceremony to commemorate the historic date.

The couples, all in their 20s, were married off by five Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) officials, witnessed by about 1,000 family members and guests.

"We actually chose to get married today as it is a unique date and only occurs every 100 years," said Faiz Hussamuddin, 24, and his bride, Tengku Norhanim Tengku Othman, 22 after the one-hour ceremony at the Al-Khairiyah Mosque in Taman Seri Gombak.

Meanwhile, Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) director, Datuk Marzuki Hussin said the mass wedding was the best way for young couples to save cost.

Commenting on the organisation of the wedding, mosque official Mohd Rozi Salleh said the mosque spent RM15,000 on food, wedding dais, canopies and door gifts for the guests.

- Bernama