KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — The National Registration Department (JPN) has stressed that a video showing the Home Minister officiating the civil marriage of a non-Muslim couple, which has resurfaced on social media, does not depict a recent event but was part of a programme held in conjunction with JPN’s Diamond Jubilee celebration for National Registration Day 2023.
In a Facebook post today, JPN said the matter had been officially clarified on October 25, 2023, and that recirculating old footage without explaining its actual context could create misleading perceptions and cause misunderstandings among the public.
“The public, particularly social media users, are urged to be more responsible in verifying the authenticity, date and context of any footage before sharing.
“Stop recycling old issues with misleading narratives. Respect the facts, refer to official explanations and do not turn social media into a platform for creating misunderstandings in society,” the department said.
JPN said differences in opinion should not be used as a pretext to disseminate information out of context, leading to unfounded controversy.
JPN explained that it is tasked with registering civil marriages for non-Muslim couples under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (Act 164).
It said the Home Minister’s involvement in officiating the civil marriage was part of JPN’s official programme in 2023 and should be viewed in the context of the department’s functions and responsibilities under the prevailing laws.
“JPN has also shared the views of the Federal Territories Mufti Department on the relevant aspects of Islamic law as a reference for the public, so that the matter can be assessed based on facts and explanations from the relevant authorities, rather than assumptions or misleading interpretations,” the department said.
In the post, JPN also attached a media statement dated Oct 25, 2023, which explained that the registration of the civil marriages of two couples at the Putrajaya JPN office did not involve religious rituals or customs of any ethnic group. — Bernama
Note: The National Registration Department is known as Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN).