What are the prohibited relationships for marriage in Malaysia? (2024)

Under Section 11 of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, the following relationships are prohibited for marriage in Malaysia:

• You are not allowed to marry your grandparent, parent, child or grandchild, sister or brother, great-aunt or great-uncle, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, great-niece or great-nephew


• If you are a Hindu marrying under the Hindu law or custom, you will not be prohibited to marry your sister's daughter (niece) or your mother's brother (uncle)


• You are not allowed to marry the grandparent or parent, child or grandchild of your spouse or former spouse


• You are not allowed to marry the former spouse of your grandparent or parent, child or grandchild


• You are not allowed to marry a person whom you have adopted or by whom you have been adopted

For the above purposes, relationships include

• relationship of the half blood as well as the full blood


• illegitimate blood relationship as well as legitimate

You must obtain a special marriage licence in Form JPN.KC01A (Application For Marriage Licence For Parties Whose Relationships Are Prohibited) ^[1] for prohibited relationships marriage. The licence may be granted by the Chief Minister, in his discretion, if he is satisfied that such marriage is unobjectionable under the law, religion, custom or usage applicable to the parties thereto.

References

1. ^ JPN.KC01A can be obtained from the National Registration Department (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara JPN), Marriage and Divorce Division. Licence fee is RM2.00 and valid one (1) month from the date of approval.

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