Rich And Handsome Southern Thai Women Favour Malaysian Men Imam Says

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Imam of Al-Furqan Mosque in Pattani, Mukhlis Mustafa Dollahn, said many women from the southern border provinces were willing to marry Malaysian men, especially those who are wealthy and attractive, seeing such relationships as a path to a better life. - NSTP/Sharifah Mahsinah AbdullahKOTA BARU: Wealth, good looks and the promise of financial security are proving irresistible for some women in Thailand's southern provinces — even if it means becoming a second wife to a Malaysian man.
Imam of Al-Furqan Mosque in Pattani, Mukhlis Mustafa Dollahn, said many women from the southern border provinces were willing to marry Malaysian men, especially those who are wealthy and attractive, seeing such relationships as a path to a better life.
"Many Thai women choose to marry Malaysian men because they are financially stable and take good care of their families.
"They don't mind becoming a second wife as long as their husbands are rich and responsible," Mukhlis told Malaysian media when met in Yala on Wednesday.
He said the women, mostly from Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, are drawn to Malaysian men who often provide them with capital to start small businesses or help support their families.
"It doesn't have to be young men — even older ones are accepted as long as they have money," he said with a smile.
Mukhlis added that most of these cross-border marriages take place in Songkhla, where local authorities and Islamic councils facilitate marriage registration for binational couples.
He said many Malaysian men enter Thailand through checkpoints such as Bukit Kayu Hitam and other border crossings to meet their prospective partners before the wedding.
"From what we've seen, these relationships are based on mutual understanding.
"The women seek stability, while the men find companionship and loyalty," he said.
Despite cultural and language differences, such unions continue to thrive, reflecting the close social and religious ties between communities living along the Malaysia–Thailand border.
Southern Thailand has long been a popular destination for Malaysians seeking to get married, especially those wishing to marry without going through complex procedures at home.
Districts such as Danok, Sadao, Sungai Golok, Narathiwat and Songkhla have become well known for hosting such unions, as the marriage process there is recognised under Islamic law and can later be registered in Malaysia.
Local Islamic offices in southern Thailand often handle hundreds of applications from Malaysian couples each year.
While some come for first marriages, many involve polygamous arrangements where men seek to take a second or third wife. - NST

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