The National Security Council (NSC) has released the standard operating procedure (SOP) for wedding ceremonies for non-Muslims at all places of worship and associations during the recovery movement control order (MCO).

On top of the "new normal" practices such as observing social distancing, using hand sanitiser and going through temperature checks, only a total of 20 people including the assistant registrar of marriage are allowed to be part of the ceremony based on the size of the premise.

Other conditions include:

  • Individuals who carry symptoms or suffer from chronic diseases, senior citizens, and children under the age of 12 are not encouraged to be present
  • Guests have to fill in their personal details such as name, contact number, as well as their body temperature in the attendance book or download the My Sejahtera application.
  • Guests are encouraged to wear face mask in the premise
  • The assistant registrar has to ensure that there is only one ceremony in a premise at one time and the time gap between the two ceremonies must be suitable
  • The couple, family members, and witnesses have to immediately leave the premise after the ceremony is completed.

Previously, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced on June 7 that the government has approved 171 places of worship to register non-Muslim marriages.

Following this, he announced on June 21 that assistant registrars of marriage will be allowed to conduct wedding ceremonies at places of worship and communal associations with up to 20 people present.

Despite these announcements, registrars of marriage at places of worship and communal associations complained that they were prohibited from doing so pending approval letters from the National Registration Department.

The approval had been withheld while waiting for the NSC to approve the SOP for wedding ceremonies. A copy of the SOP can be found on the council’s website.

Ismail had announced that from July 1 onwards, all social events including wedding and engagement ceremonies will be allowed with up to 250 people in attendance, as well as other precautions against Covid-19.

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