KOTA BHARU – Physical appearance, romantic demeanour and economic factors are the main attractions for women, especially in Kelantan, to marry Pakistani men, while local men tend to choose Thai women as their life partners.
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Bachok Language Studies and Human Development Senior Faculty Lecturer Prof Dr Mohd Nawi Ismail believed that this phenomenon presented a somewhat negative image of the local community, particularly in Kelantan.
“Based on observations and shared stories, I found that Pakistani men are attracted to marrying local women for several reasons, including obtaining privileges while residing in this country to earn a living,” he told Sinar.
He said some Pakistani men were already married in their home country but chose to marry local women to facilitate their business expansion in Malaysia.
“In addition, the tall stature, fair skin and sharp nose of Pakistani men are also appealing factors, along with the perception that they are more romantic than Malay men,” he said.
He also noted that the loving nature shown by Pakistani men towards their wives makes Kelantanese women easily fall for them.
“This opportunity is taken by some women who have experienced disappointment in their relationships with local men to find happiness again,” he added.
Nawi further said that one distinct characteristic was that Pakistani men did not seem to mind the age or marital status of their partners.
“Although there have been cases where Pakistani men return to their home country and never come back, this does not stop local women from continuing to seek such partners,” he said.
Regarding local men choosing Thai women as wives, Nawi said that this was due to their soft-spoken nature, ease of being guided and cooking skills.
“I believe that local women should be the primary choice. Malay women also possess strong personal values, with advantages in terms of customs, religion and much more,” he said.
On Wednesday, Sinar reported that the Kelantan Immigration Department (JIM) revealed that Kelantanese women were the top choice for Pakistani men, while local men prefer Thai women as their life partners.
This was based on the increasing number of long-term social visit pass applications for non-citizen spouses from both countries each year.