GEORGE TOWN - Love knows no bounds for 23-year-old Siti Maryam Tan Abdullah who went on to marry the man of her dreams despite objections from her family.

What makes it even more heartwarming is that Siti Maryam and the groom, Riswandi Razali, 26, are both hearing impaired.

The couple, who are members of the Penang Deaf Communication Centre, tied the knot in a Malay wedding ceremony at the centre here on Tuesday.

With the help of the centre's sign language interpreter Siti Zubaidah Mohd Lani, Siti Maryam said her family could not accept Riswandi and her conversion to Islam.

"I tried to find someone else during a one-month break from him (Riswandi) but could not find a person who matched up to him.

"He is loving and caring," she said, adding that they had been dating for six years.

The two met while studying at SM Pendidikan Khas Persekutuan in Tanjung Bungah.

Siti Maryam, who hails from Taiping, added that she felt sad her family was not present at her wedding despite having knowledge of the occasion.

"My only hope is that they will accept my husband and also accept me as a Muslim now," she said.

After the akad nikah ceremony, Riswandi said he was very happy to marry Siti Maryam, whom he described as "a good and romantic woman".

With the interpreter's help, Riswandi added that he would take care of his wife and love her always.

"I hope to have three or four children," said the bridal furnishing designer.

Some 100 friends and relatives attended the wedding.

Penang Deaf Association (PDA) president Chung Kim Cheong said it was the first time a wedding was held at the centre, which was set up in March last year.

The centre is managed by both the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf and the PDA.