The National Registration Department (NRD) today clarified that Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail registering the marriages of two non-Muslim couples involved no religious rituals.
It explained that Saifuddin (above) was invited to attend the department’s 60th-anniversary celebration in Putrajaya, which featured the civil registration of marriages for selected couples.
“The NRD would like to stress that the marriage registration conducted was based on civil laws under Act 164.
“The civil marriage registration does not involve, does not represent, and was not influenced by any religious rituals or culture or a particular race,” it said.
The NRD said the vows recited by the registrar were also based on Sections 23 of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, and strictly based on civil marriage.
The department added that it carries out its duty of recording non-Muslim marriages and divorces, in line with the act.
“So, based on the act, Saifuddin is the minister in charge and (among those) empowered to register a non-Muslim marriage,” it said.
A recent viral video showed Saifuddin standing in front of a non-Muslim couple, holding a document, and asking whether they agreed to be married.
“The video was recorded when the minister was invited to officiate NRD’s celebration in Putrajaya.
“The programme included registering two civil marriages of non-Muslim couples selected by the NRD.
“This is a special programme for selected couples, in conjunction with the annual National Registration Day,” said the department.
After the ceremony, the couple was feted by several individuals believed to be their family members. - Mkini
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