English Translation of Utusan article on Rais Yatim’s statements on mixed marraige
Celebrities, Sharing February 26th, 2010
Based on this article on Utusan. Given that I frequently blog in BM and English, thought it’ll be good to translate this as this seems to be a new story with no versions in the English newspapers as of yet.
Original article here, translation below by Google Translate and refined/reworded by Josh Lim. And of course, see this post for more about the issue. And if anything, let me know if my translation is accurate.
Beware Of Mixed Marraiges
PUTRAJAYA 25 February - The young people, especially artistes/celebrities are reminded to think ‘thousands of times’ before having a mixed marraige because studies have shown that the success rate is only 3:10.
Minister of Information, Arts and Heritage, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim, said scientific studies conducted by several members of sociology in this country between 1995 and 1998 found that in out of 10 mixed marriages, only three succeeded.
In fact, he said, failure is very significant when mixed marriages involving partners from those of White/Caucasian descent.
But “intermarriage in Malaysia involving the men and women who are non-Muslims who later converted to Islam to marry is very successful compared to those who marry foreigners from the west.
“This (mixed marraiges) has become normal, so, young people especially artistes can take instructive example of this and if you want to scrutinize this study that comes with a guide, you can get from the civil registration of marriage records storage sharia in Johor and the Federal Territory, “he said to Utusan Malaysia today.
Rais was asked his opinion regarding the marraige problems of actress Maya Karin, 31, who reportedly does not stay with her husband anymore.
The beautiful actress who confirmed the matter said, her household problems with her husband, Steven David Shorthose or Muhammad Ali, 41, of Italy are their own mistakes because they do not realize the cultural differences factor when they were in love.
Refusing to directly comment on the matter faced by Maya Karin, Rais, an expert of the Federal Constitution and legislation, said that there are many challenges faced by mixed couples who seek to marry.
“The failure of marriage is caused by cultural differences, religion and how a person in raised by their respective countries”
“Most marriages are based more on “short term love”, and after a brief period, people will return to the culture and religion that they were born into, “he said.
In law terms is, Rais said that “a mixed marriage couple is expected to face quite serious problems if their marraige dissolves”
“It is not easy to get citizenship in Malaysia, the question here is that it is easier if it involves a woman marrying a Malaysian man than the other way around.”
“This is due to citizenship regulations in Section 16 and 17 of the Federal Constitution that the consideration is based on the patriachy (male), and not the matriachy (female). ”
He said “What is even more worrying about mixed marraiges, especially if the couple has children involved, then the father will take the children back to England and Europe, and regarding this matter, a failed mixed-marraige, it is better if they don’t have children.”
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oh rais, you xenophobic bicentannial a-hole you
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Actually 3:10 is not so bad…
I watched on Discovery about american navy people detached in South Korea and marrying local women. The American Navy offer to future wives some courses so to understand better the american culture, so later when will follow their husbunds the cultural shock not to be so big….
Very interesting that documentary…
Anyway, bottom line, from their statistics, only 5% or 0.5:10 from these mariages will last.
So 3:10 is much better…
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Hmm…Rais sounds pretty pessimistic about this mixed-marriage thingy. Sounds like no gender equality here? :p
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Got here from Unmalaysia’s article. I did a similar translation for the same article, and would suggest replacing a few terms in your translation to make it read better:
Short-term romance = whirlwind romance
In law terms = In legal terms
PS: You have a typo in your translation for the word marriage.
I hope that helps!
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Only marriages between muslims and non-muslims fail!
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We are trying to advocate 1 Malaysia - so how to respect each other’s faith and customs if there is no-no to mixed marriages - poor Malaysians - they have an identity crisis!
Mauswaramari
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“But “intermarriage in Malaysia involving the men and women who are non-Muslims who later converted to Islam to marry is very successful compared to those who marry foreigners from the west.”
Hmmm.. Interesting. So what are the statistics of compulsory Muslim-by-birth couples? What’s the ratio of divorce, how many remarried or practise polygamy or have Thai-Muslim registered marriages without wife’s knowledge?
With the compulsory Muslim pre-marriage classes, has the rate of divorce in recently married couples declined?
Only then will the mixed-marriage 3:10 ratio or ‘CONVERTED-TO-MUSLIM SUCCESS’ comment hold some water instead of just commenting for the sake of getting some main stream media attention.
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I have some friends whose mixed marriages between Muslim and non-muslim collapsed. The reasons given were basically that the spouses who converted wanted to revert to their old lifestyle after some time. Some started consuming alcohol, get drunk, keeping intoxicating drinks at home. Some like to dress up like prostitutes again.So conflicts arise and the marriage crumbled. As simple as that.
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im a turkish man married with a malay woman and im very very and very happy with her and my marriage. because she is not celebrity and she doesnt reveal her body in public, she is following her religion carefully and she never dissapoint me. maya karin gives reason saying that the reason why they cant stand anymore is because of cultural diffrences. for me: the man converted to islam and he start to learn islam. but when he look at his wife she is not living as a muslimah, she is revealing her body very sexy and very social, whcih is contradict to what he learns in islam, which means her life style is not islamic. of course the man m, ali dissapointed and cannot accept his wife if she pucblish her half naked pictures,if there are unhappy and not last long marriages between different cultures or countries couples, but also among the locals it is because of lack of islamic life style. if they live according to islamic rules and if they follow the islam fully both malay to malay and malay to foreigner marriages will be happy. there are many and many mixed marriages that i know most of them are my friends and they are very happy with their wife(malay woman) because they dont publish their sexy pictures and they don’t flirt with other man. those people for many years they live happily and they have many kids. because they follow the islam as much as they can,, this article only for celebrities.. 1 malaysia is not marrying malay to malay, “dont get wrong”. i love my malay wife we are happy alhamdulillah,and i encourage my friedns to marry with malay girls. pls dont discourage the mix marriages,, most of the ppl are happy…
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zozo Reply:
July 10th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
selam memo,
i need your help in terms of documentation and some other question. My boyfriend is turkish and iam malaysian(malezian). Much appreciate if you can reply me in my email sheikhazalia@hotmail.com
thanx a lot
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It all depend on sincerity if it involved conversion to Islam. If we convert to get married then problem bound to come alng the way. But if we are sincere about Islam then the conversion to Islam will not be the cause of future problems in mixed marriage. This is from my personal experiences as I was a convert before my marriage to my present Malay or to be more precise a suluk woman. We have been married for 31 years with 11 grown-up childrens - a big happy and successful mixed marriage family.
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I carefully read the comments posted by soem readers and thier comments were well understood especially that of memo. To me as a Muslim, i think we malay we are decieving ourselves and we fail to say the truth and we always politicise everything. I better to tell majority of malay thier weakness and immoral behavour that roaming in many houses and family in malaysia. First, let us look at divorce rate among malay marriage, and why malay preferred to go for divorce rather than to reconcile or endure the ugly situation he or she find himself or herself. Second, religion is declining in society, many malay women are not behave islamically in tems of thier dress, make up, behaviour, and character.
Third, it good that Rais mentioned white people not African people, the way media portrayed African is too bad and many malay women who married african are still enjoying thier relationship. Is better to de-orient and re-orient our malay abour african. Fourth, there is nothing wrong with mixed marriage legally an dreligiously but the question is that does malay woemn behave morally, culturally, and religiously? many are not respect their husband any more they are fighting for equal right. Does that malay culture? please don’t politicise our culture?
Finally, Media has a lot to do in order to reshape our religion, culture and society.
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I would like to know where these people got their information from.Being in a mixed marriage myself I know it can be hard sometimes.Maybe even more than in a regular marriage,however if both persons truly love each other and see their partnar for who they really are than it can work.
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Muhamad Yew bin Abdullah | April 4th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
“It all depend on sincerity if it involved conversion to Islam. If we convert to get married then problem bound to come alng the way. But if we are sincere about Islam then the conversion to Islam will not be the cause of future problems in mixed marriage.”
You are right but the need for sincerity is not confined to Islam alone. It is an essential prerequisite in any marriage, be it mixed, non-mixed, Muslim or non-Muslim.
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why no menion of muslims converting to other faiths or does that not happen .
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I found Rais Yatim’s views intriguing, but the comment posted by “Memo” was really good, and probably is nearer to the truth. I don’t believe that White Caucasians are the problem in mixed marriages; it’s more likely that the celebrity Malay wife is the problem. Whites in Western countries (where I studied for a number of years) will respect Muslims when they see that they follow their religious teachings. Perhaps Maya Karin’s Italian husband did not see his wife as a typical Muslim, something that perhaps he might have liked. Malay celebrities (whether male or female) are bad publicity for practising Muslims in Malaysia. They need a makeover to change to better role-models for the rest of us, and particularly for the hordes of young fans that seem to find no flaw in them.
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I have been married for 11 years with my African husband and alhamdulillah , we are still together. I agree with Abdullah, that the way our media protray africans is bad. There is bad people everywhere, even amonge our malays too. My ex malay husband was a drug addict, i almost got killed, but after meeting my African husband, things have changed, i have been to South Africa and Ghana to meet his relative, The place is wonderful and i wonder why does he have to come here whey they have alot in place.
Dont discriminate. check yourself before you talk abt others.
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I totally agree with Binti. Our government is selfcentred .I think we need to check ourself before complaining abt other people. Most of our men commit alot more than these Africans.
I just got married to Mutallab from Nigeria and we have travelled to his country many times without any plm.
check the peek in your eyes, before you remove the log in other people’s eyes.
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ikhlas and sincerity is the basics in islam or in any religion,,, the Quran and our prophets life is the best examples for us to be a good husband and wife… if we fail to fulfill the Islamic requirements in our marriages of course there will be sad ends,, we need education, we need to educate our generations in appropriate environment, we need sincere educators for that.
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