Green light for 952 Kedah couples to marry during MCO

ALOR SETAR (Bernama): A total of 952 couples in Kedah who have been given the green light to get married during the movement control order (MCO) are allowed to do so at the District Religious Offices with minimal attendance.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (pic) said only marriage solemnisations (akad nikah) were allowed and no other ceremony could be held, while the date and time of the solemnisation would be determined by the Kedah State Islamic Religious Affairs Department.

"What is being worked out is to allocate a few days a week for the District Religious Office to handle the conventional marriage, but attendance is limited to the couple and each accompanied by a next-of-kin (wali) or a guardian (for the bride) who could give away the bride in accordance with Syariah law.

"Three witnesses will be provided by the religious office and the couple will have to register in advance to facilitate arrangements for the time and date of the solemnisation ceremony," he told reporters after attending a Special State Government Covid-19 Committee Meeting at Wisma Darul Aman, here Tuesday (April 21) night.

He said that for those who were getting married to individuals from abroad, the best initiative was being worked on to facilitate their solemnisations.

"We endeavour to make the video conferencing method work and also see how the other states are using it. We will seek to co-ordinate it in Kedah to resolve all the problems involved," he said. - Bernama