The government today said it would not recognise what is believed to be the country's first marriage involving a transsexual.

Jessie Chung, who was previously a man known as Jeffrey but underwent three sex change operations, married accountant Joshua Beh on Saturday after he proposed to her six times, the Star newspaper reported today.

The marriage was blessed by the Charismatic Church and presided over by pastors from three other churches.

But Deputy Home Affairs Minister Tan Chai Ho said it has no legal standing since the law does not allow marriages between two people of the same sex, even if one of them had undergone a sex change operation.

"If I am not mistaken, this is the first time such a marriage has taken place in Malaysia. Under the Marriage and Divorce Reform Act 1976, their marriage is invalid, which means it doesn't have legal status," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

"If they apply (for a marriage certificate), definitely we will ask for their identity card where the gender is stated. I guess they must have realised this and I think that is why they did not apply for it," he said.

The couple reportedly spent over RM1 million on their wedding.

Chung, in her 30s, is a singer who has released two Chinese-language albums. - AFP