Infertility

The couple would be bathed after the three-day period is over.

Before the marriage ceremony, the bridegroom would be carried on a sail boat-shaped stretcher to the bride's house.

Marukin said the wedding ring is not slipped onto the bride's finger by the husband-to-be but by his mother instead.

In the case of the Suluk community, the engagement is not more than one week and the bride-to-be is not allowed outside the house during that period.

The Suluk community head in Sandakan, Mustaffah Mohd Hassan, 41, said the short engagement period is to avoid any untoward incident.

Another important factor for the Suluk is perfect timing, and any bridegroom who arrives late to the wedding would have to pay a fine, which usually takes the form of a ring, he said.

Before the marriage, the bridegroom is not allowed to see the face of his bride until he had sung several love songs.

Then the curtain which separates them is raised and the married couple could see each other sitting on the dais.

The ministry's Secretary General, Datuk Siti Azizah Abot, who represented Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim at the launch of the ceremony, said the programme would be extended to other states.

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