Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin
Haji Mohd Yussof explained that under the Islamic Family Law Act (Chapter 217), any citizen or permanent resident of Brunei Darussalam intending to marry, whether within or outside the country, must first obtain approval from the Registry of Muslim Marriage, Divorce, Annulment and Ruju’ (PPPPROI) in the district where the applicant resides.

This explanation was made in response to a question raised by Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Daud bin Jihan, seeking clarification on the necessity of enforcing verification of the applicant’s status in marriage applications, the mechanisms in place to ensure data consistency across government agencies, and how data coordination is managed to maintain accurate and consistent records.
“Before approval by PPPPROI is granted, a thorough investigation is conducted based on supporting documents submitted with the application forms, which include Form 1 (Marriage Application for Men) and Form 2 (Marriage Application for Women).”

The minister added that a key part of the investigation involves verifying the applicant’s marital status, whether single, married, or divorced, which includes living or deceased spouses.

“To support the verification process, applicants are required to provide relevant documents such as marriage certificates, divorce certificates, death certificates, and confirmation letters from the village head.”

The minister emphasised that certification from the village head serves as an important supporting document, particularly in confirming the applicant’s residence and marital status. This helps facilitate the investigation and speeds up the approval process.

“The investigation also ensures compliance with Syariah requirements. For instance, if an applicant is already married, they must first obtain permission from the Syariah Court to enter into a polygamous marriage.

“Only after the Registrar is satisfied with the authenticity and completeness of the application and supporting evidence will approval for marriage be granted.”

The minister cited Section 16 of the Islamic Family Law Act (Chapter 217), which states that the Registry may grant permission for marriage once satisfied with the validity of the application and, in cases involving a married man, confirmation that the legal permissions, such as those under Section 23(3), have been obtained, subject to the prescribed fees.

(news source: Borneo Bulletin, pic source: Info Foto, Jabatan Penerangan)