KOTA KINABALU: Kindergarten teacher Nuaimah Jafar, 20, had never met Mohd Farijan Andan, three years her senior, until the day he took her as his wife.

"He was chosen by my family and I never met him till our 'nikah' last Sunday.

"We have fallen in love since then," said the beaming bride at her bersanding ceremony yesterday.

Joining them were eight other couples aged between 18 and 25 in what was one of the largest mass weddings organised by the controversial Obedient Wives Club (OWC) and Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd.

Nuaimah said she had no qualms in agreeing to an arranged marriage as she was confident of her parents' choice.

Farijan, a Global Ikhwan employee, said he did not think it was odd for his bride to be chosen by his parents, adding that looks were not important as there were other traits to consider such as being polite and religious.

For businessman Mohd Amirul Mutaqin, 22, this was his second experience sitting on the pelamin (central pavilion sitting in a Malay wedding).

The Sarawakian met kindergarten teacher Zahaidah Muhasim, 21, on Facebook and said they remained friends until their parents decided to match them in marriage.

"We are not embarrassed that ours is a polygamous marriage.

"This is after all allowed in Islam," Mohd Amirul said,

He added that his first wife had no problem with him taking another spouse.

OWC Sabah chapter chief Roslina Sulaiman said the couples had to fork out only RM500 (S$207) for their nikah and bersanding (marriage contract and enthronment) ceremonies, with other costs borne by the group and Global Ikhwan.

"This is our way of promoting the institution of marriage," she said, adding that the club was providing courses to couples to prepare them for married life.

"One of the important ways to ensure the success of any marriage is that the wife must be obedient to the husband in all aspects," Roslina added.