Just wanted to do a quick exercise of translating this Malay article into English. Considering the inflammatory language used by the original author/editor/newspaper, I’m trying to make the English version as neutral as possible.

Be wary of mixed marriages
By ZULKIFLI JALIL
email: pengarang@utusan.com.my

PUTRAJAYA 25 Feb. – Youths, including artists and celebrities were reminded to think “a thousand times or more” before entering into a mixed marriage, as studies show that the success rate of such marriages were only 3:10.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim explained that studies carried out in Malaysia between 1995 to 1998 discovered that only three out of every ten mixed marriages succeed.

According to him, the failure is higher among couples with at a Caucasian partner.

“However, in such marriages where the non-Muslim partner enters Islam, the success rate is much higher.”

“This has become common, so youths, including artists can use this as encouragement. If you’d like to know more about this study, you can get it from the civil marriages registration from the syariah records in Johor and Wilayah Persekutuan,” he said to Utusan Malaysia today.

Rais was also asked on his opinion regarding the separation between actress Maya Karin and her husband.

The beautiful actress explained the reason for her marriage’s breakdown laid on them, as they had not taken into account their cultural differences before getting married.

Rais who is also an expert on law and the Constitution, refused to comment on her marriage, saying the reality was there were a lot of hardship a mixed couple would face.

“Such marriages fail because of the many differences in lifestyle, culture, and religion each person was raised into.

“It’s just that most of these marriages are based on ‘whirlwind romances’, so after a short while, each partner falls back to the culture they were raised in.” Translator’s note: I have no idea what he’s trying to say here, actually. I understand the words, but when strung together they make no sense. Alternatives MORE than welcome for this particular section.

Legally speaking, Rais said that mixed couples face quite severe problems if their marriage faces trouble.

“It’s not easy to get a Malaysian citizenship. However, things are easier for a woman marrying a Malaysian man rather than the other way around.”

“This is because citizenship in Sections 16 and 17 of the Federal Constitution is based more on the father’s side and not the mother’s,” he said.

He continued, “It gets even worse if they have a child, as the father may “kidnap” the child back to England or Europe, so in such cases, if the mixed marriage fails, it would be better for them to not have children.”

Original under the cut: Read More »