KUALA LUMPUR: A viral video showing Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail solemnising a civil marriage between a non-Muslim couple was recorded in 2023, the National Registration Department (NRD) said.
The department said the video was part of its Diamond Jubilee celebration held in conjunction with National Registration Day that year, and the matter had already been clarified on Oct 25 that year.
"NRD takes seriously the recirculation of the video clip of the home minister solemnising a civil marriage between a non-Muslim couple, despite the matter having been officially clarified since Oct 25, 2023.
"Recycling old footage without explaining the actual context, particularly when it creates a misleading perception, is irresponsible and could cause misunderstandings among the public," it said in a statement.
The department said it was responsible for registering civil marriages between non-Muslim couples under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act.
It added that Saifuddin's involvement in solemnising the marriage was part of the department's official programme in 2023 and should be understood in the context of its legal functions.
NRD also said it had sought views from the Federal Territories Mufti Department on relevant aspects of Islamic law.
It said the public to rely on facts and explanations from the relevant authorities rather than assumptions or misleading interpretations.
"Differences of opinion should not be used as a reason to disseminate information out of context and trigger unfounded controversy," it said.
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