National Registration Department Urges Public To Stop Spreading Misleading Narratives Over Recirculated 2023 Video

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 – The National Registration Department (JPN) has issued a stern reminder to the public to stop circulating a video clip on social media showing the Home Minister officiating a civil marriage for a non-Muslim couple, clarifying that the video is old footage from 2023 taken out of context.

In an official statement published on its Facebook page on Friday, October 16, 2026, JPN stressed that the ceremony took place as part of an official event celebrating National Registration Day during JPN’s Diamond Jubilee celebration in 2023.

The department noted that a full official clarification was originally issued on October 25, 2023, and warned that recirculating old media without proper context creates false perceptions and public confusion.

“Stop recycling old issues with misleading narratives. Respect the facts, refer to official explanations and do not turn social media into a platform for creating misunderstandings in society,” JPN stated.

Legal Mandate, Religious Clarifications, and Verification Call

JPN detailed the legal responsibilities governing civil marriage registrations and urged responsible internet usage:

• Statutory Role Under Act 164: JPN emphasized its statutory responsibility to register non-Muslim civil marriages in accordance with the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (Act 164).
• Minister’s Official Function: The Home Minister’s presence at the 2023 ceremony was part of JPN’s administrative celebration and aligned fully with the department’s statutory mandate under Malaysian law.
• Absence of Religious Rituals: Reissuing its statement from October 25, 2023, JPN reiterated that the registration of the two couples at the Putrajaya JPN office was purely administrative and did not involve any religious rites or ethnic customs.
• Mufti Department Reference: JPN noted that it had previously shared guidelines from the Federal Territories Mufti Department regarding Islamic law aspects so the public could evaluate the situation through official facts rather than speculative commentary.
• Public Verification Request: Social media users are urged to verify the authenticity, original publication dates, and background context of videos before sharing content online.

JPN reiterated that differing personal views should not be used as an excuse to broadcast out-of-context content that generates unnecessary social friction.

–NMT