Chinese man in Sarawak ties the knot with two women, creating online stir

SARAWAK, MALAYSIA: A Chinese man in Kuching, Sarawak caught the attention of the online community when he hosted a unique wedding ceremony involving two women.

On Monday (11 March), netizen 小安娜 shared a series of captivating photos on her Facebook page, showcasing a wedding dinner held at the restaurant where she is employed.

The images depicted a wedding celebration involving a man and two women, leaving Malaysians intrigued and intrigued.

She wrote, “Congratulations to the groom and the two brides! May the three of you share a lifetime of love and happiness as you age together.”

The photos revealed moments of the ceremony, including pouring the champagne tower and cutting the wedding cake, all joyously carried out by the groom, reportedly a hawker selling kolok mee, and his two brides.

Although the original photos have been deleted, the news has gained traction in the online space and has been widely covered by local Chinese media.

Commenting on the Oriental Daily News Facebook page, some individuals expressed their congratulations and fascination with this extraordinary wedding.

A netizen commented: “I would never share my husband with anyone else! But still, congratulations to you all.”

Another comment raised a potential future challenge for the husband: “In the days to come, will there be friction between the two women in their interactions? How to treat them fairly will be the husband’s biggest test.”

Skepticism surrounds the legitimacy of non-Muslim polygamous union in Malaysia

While many offered congratulations to the newly married trio, some individuals questioned the legitimacy of a polygamous union for non-Muslims in Malaysia.

One netizen pointed out that it could potentially be an offence under Section 494 of the Penal Code, carrying a punishment of imprisonment for up to 7 years and a fine.

Another perspective suggested that perhaps one of the brides did not officially register with the Registrar’s Office, and current regulations might not explicitly prohibit the presence of two wives at the wedding dinner.

Concerns were also raised about potential complications in the future, particularly regarding the child born to the unregistered wife.

There is apprehension that the space for the father on the child’s birth certificate might have to be left empty, creating difficulties for the child as they navigate their way forward in life.

Polygamy, or more accurately polygyny (where a man can have up to four wives), is legally recognized in Malaysia. However, this is primarily applicable to the Muslim community in our country.

Since 1 March 1982, no new polygamous marriages for non-Muslims have been allowed. This means that a person who is already married cannot enter into another marriage until their spouse dies or until the marriage is dissolved or annulled by a court order.

Engaging in another marriage during the lifetime of a spouse, commonly referred to as bigamy, is considered an offence under Section 494 of the Penal Code.

It is punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years and is liable to a fine.

Furthermore, any subsequent marriage conducted in such circumstances will be deemed void. This implies that the new spouse and their children will not have the right to inherit the property of the person upon their death.