Malaysian officials crack down on 'marriages of convenience'

Kuala Lumpur, March 29 (ANI): Malaysian officials are working to expose a syndicate believed to be involved in encouraging "marriages of convenience".

Foreign women, who arrive in search of work, were said to be hiring local men as their husbands for a monthly fee of RM 5,000 to escape being deported or arrested.

"Most of them (foreign women) are from China and Vietnam. This is definitely the work of a syndicate and we are getting the police to help us crack it," the New Straits Times quoted Immigration director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman as saying.

The department expressed its helplessness against imposing stricter rules or controlling the situation.

NRD director-general Datuk Alwi Ibrahim said: "For now, there is no way for us to find out whether the marriages are genuine. There is no proof to show that they are marriages of convenience."

A police source added: "This problem has been there for more than five years. We see this in most of the raids conducted at massage parlours, clubs, restaurants and entertainment outlets.

"These foreign women will produce their passports and marriage certificates stating that they had married locals.

When officers ask them about the whereabouts of their husbands, they will say their husbands were outstation or could not be contacted." (ANI)