How much you'll pay II

[My Malaysiana]

...for your solely duit hantaran.

From The Star

PARENTS who want to have a say in fixing wang hantaran (bridal gift) ahead of a couple's marriage could jeopardise the harmony between the newlyweds, Kosmo! reported.

Clinical sociology expert Datuk Dr Wan Halim Wan Othman said meddling parents only brought about negative results, especially if the wang hantaran was too high for the couples.

"Society has a perception that a big amount of wang hantaran reflects a better social status," he said, adding that there were also those who related it to a family's dignity, which they felt should be upheld.

Dr Wan Halim was commenting on an earlier report in the paper that said parents and in-laws were the cause of young couples getting into financial difficulty which often led to bankruptcy.

He said the bridal gift was meant to help the newlyweds to start a family.

He added that the present-day culture of holding large weddings and inviting many guests also led to wastage.

"Wedding receptions do not bring any profit and are also not money-making projects," said Dr Wan Halim, adding that a moderate reception involving close relatives was enough.

The paper also quoted Royal Prof Ungku Aziz as saying that holding big wedding receptions was a sign of arrogance or of trying to show off.

"Do it according to your means. Don't follow the rich or expect praises from guests. Keep hold of yourself and don't get into debt," he advised.

Prof Ungku Aziz also frowned on using credit cards to pay for weddings, saying it was not a wise move.

On the issue of the Malay language, Berita Harian reported that non-Malays had to be responsible as well in developing and consolidating its use.

Quoting newly appointed Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) director Datuk Dr Firdaus Abdullah, the paper said the current situation indicated that Malays were solely shouldering the responsibility and were satisfied if non-Malays just took up the language.

"All this while, we have been relying only on Malays to carry out efforts to expand the Malay language," he said.

Dr Firdaus added that DBP would work with various parties on the issue and involve non-Malays as well.

Related post:

Malaysia alami masalah jika wanita tidak kahwin bertambah - Mufti

Hantaran tinggi memang jadi masalah

Hantaran tinggi bukan alasan untuk tidak berkahwin

Hantaran tinggi sukarkan perkahwinan

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How much you'll pay