RoM @ Thean Hou Temple

Went to Thean Hou Temple (somewhere near Mid Valley) to find out the processes of registering our marriage. Rushed like mad only to find out that the Marriage Registry office is open from 9am till 5pm on Saturdays not 9am to 12noon as mentioned by my colleague...

So anyway... while we were there, we found out that there are actually 5 steps to registering one's marriage:

• Step 1: Application
• Step 2: Statutory Declaration
• Step 3: Submission
• Step 4: Verification
• Step 5: Registration of Marriage

Step 1: Application

• The couple must be present in person and bring along the following documents:
• Original and 1 photocopy of Identity Card (A4 size, not to be cut)
• Original and 1 photocopy of Birth Certificate (A4 size, not to be cut)
• 1 passport-size coloured photograph each (Instant photos are unacceptable)
• Photocopy of 2 witnesses' I.C. (A4 size, not to be cut)
• Witnesses must be Malaysian Citizen above 21 years old. They are not required to be present during the submission application.
• Application from male below 18 or female below 16 is NOT acceptable. Female below 18 but above 16 may register her marriage with license granted by Ketua Menteri and her father must be her witness.
• At least one of the applicants must be a Buddhist. Foreigners or Malaysian who had registered abroad or had carried out traditional wedding before 1/3/1982 cannot apply to register here.
• Time for Submission of Application: 9.00am till 5.00pm (Monday to Saturday)

Step 2: Statutory Declaration

• After filling the application form, the couple shall make a Statutory Declaration with the Commissioner for Oaths.
• All expenses relating to the oath declaration are out of concern with the Marriage Registration Department.
• According to Section 494 of the Penal Code: If a bigamist is found guilty, he/she shall be sentenced to imprisonment of up to 7 years (and fined)!
• Note: Definition of bigamist - Any married person regardless of male / female, if he/she is married to another person when his/her earlier marriage is still valid (with spouse still alive), he/she has committed a bigamy.

Step 3: Submission

• Registration date shall be fixed at least 21 days after the date of submission but must not exceed 2 months (subject to date availability).
• Fees are payable upon submission. Fee collected is not refundable.
• Please notify the officers 3 days before the date of registration if there is a request for a date change. The application will be declared invalid if a couple fails to turn up to register within 6 months after the date of submission. Couples who intend to register must re-apply and re-do all payments.

Step 4: Verification

• All completed application form and documents submitted by the applicant shall be verified by the Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) before the Registration of Marriage could be carried out.
• Marriage Registration can ONLY be solemnized after Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara's (JPN) approval.

Step 5: Registration of Marriage

• The couple and 2 witnesses must be present with the following documents:
• The couple's original Identity Cards
• The couple's original Birth Certificates
• Two witnesses original Identity Cards
• Attire on the day of registration:
• Bridegroom: Shirt & necktie
• Bride & witness: To dress neatly or formally
• T-shirts, jeans, short pants and slippers are not allowed
• Time of registration: As set by the Marriage Registration Department
• Do not bring along children and please switch off mobile phones to avoid disturbances during registration.
• The couple and witnesses are allowed to bring their own cameras, flowers or rings during the ceremony.
• The marriage ceremony is completed once the couple receive their Marriage Certificates.