For many, love is often associated with youth, butterflies, and grand romantic gestures.
But for 66-year-old Jariah Idris, marriage at this stage of life means something much simpler yet deeply meaningful — having someone to talk to, care for, and spend the rest of her days with.
The elderly woman recently went viral after tying the knot with her former brother-in-law, 72-year-old Megat Abdul Malek Megat Abdul Hamid.
Married her late sister’s husband
According to Harian Metro, Megat Abdul Malek was previously married to Jariah’s elder sister, who passed away from liver cancer in March 2025.
Their marriage caught the attention of many after a video of their wedding reception was uploaded on social media, leading to mixed reactions from netizens about finding happiness and companionship in one’s golden years.
The wedding ceremony was held in Manjung, Perak on May 30 and was attended by around 500 guests.
What made the occasion even more touching was that the event was organised together by the children and family members from both sides, allowing the couple to experience becoming “king and queen for a day”.
‘I’m not looking for love like when I was young’
Jariah told Harian Metro that her life changed after she lost her husband in 2020.
Since then, she had been living as a widow and depending on her seven children for almost six years.
At this age, I am no longer looking for love like in my younger days. Instead, I am looking for a companion to share stories with, to care for me when I am unwell, and to accompany me in the days ahead,” she said.
Jariah, who is also a grandmother to 19 grandchildren, said Megat Abdul Malek was not a stranger to her, as he was once her brother-in-law.
She explained that the idea of remarriage first came from her younger brother, who had noticed that Megat Abdul Malek became gloomy and less cheerful after the death of his wife.
At the same time, her brother had also encouraged Jariah to remarry, as she had been living alone for years.
He then suggested my name to my brother-in-law. At first, both of us were shocked because we had never thought about it in that way.
But after discussing it and seeking our family’s views, we began to consider it more seriously,” she said.
Children eventually gave their blessing
Jariah said the decision to remarry was only made after receiving the blessing of her children and family members.
She added that her loved ones eventually understood their wish to build a new life together.
In our golden years, having a life companion brings a sense of peace and happiness that is difficult to describe, because there is someone to talk to, share stories with, and care for one another,” she said.
Jariah also shared that she did not expect her story to receive so much attention online, as the wedding video was originally uploaded by her child simply as a keepsake for the family.
I am touched by the prayers and kind wishes given by many people. At the same time, I respect every opinion that has been shared,” she said.
One of Jariah’s children, 32-year-old Badrulmunir Khushairi, admitted that he and his siblings were initially surprised when they were told about their mother’s intention to marry Megat Abdul Malek, whom they refer to as Pak Lang.
However, after seeing the sincerity of both individuals and understanding the reason behind the marriage, the family eventually gave their full support.
For us siblings, the most touching moment was seeing our mother and father smiling on the wedding dais. At that moment, we felt that giving our blessing to this marriage was the right decision.
We hope society can view this from a positive perspective because everyone deserves happiness, regardless of age. Our mother and father’s happiness is also our happiness as their children,” he said.
‘Marriage is no longer just about love’
Meanwhile, Megat Abdul Malek said he accepted the suggestion to marry Jariah after giving it deep thought.
He also described Jariah as a strong and responsible woman.
At this age, I no longer see marriage as being solely about love. What is more important is having a life companion who can accompany, help, and care for one another.
I hope to live a peaceful, healthy, and happy life with my wife and family until the end of my life,” he said.
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