M'sian man, 28, is married to wife, 51, says people often assume she's his mum

A 28-year-old Malaysian man has said strangers often assume his 51-year-old wife is his mother when the couple go out together, but added that he has never felt embarrassed by the comments.

Despite a 23-year age gap, Mohd Azmirullah Mohd Azan said the difference in age has never affected their relationship, and that he remains happy in the marriage they began in 2019.

Met on Facebook, married after three months

The couple, who live in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, first met on Facebook in May that year and married three months later, according to Harian Metro.

At the time, his wife, Wan Nazihah Wan Awang, was a single mother raising five children following the death of her first husband in 2014 due to diabetes.

Azmirullah said their relationship developed quickly after he reached out first online and offered to help when he learned that her gas business had slowed down.

He explained that his original intention had been to support her in rebuilding the business, but the relationship eventually led to marriage.

According to him, both families accepted the union from the beginning, including his wife’s children — even though her eldest child is the same age as him.

Now seven years into the marriage, he said they spend almost all their time together and rarely attend events separately.

He said:

“Some people think I am taking my mother out, but that is normal. I am not ashamed to say she is my wife because that is the truth.”

Eldest child is his age

Azmirullah added that he has grown used to negative remarks, including accusations that he married for financial comfort.

He rejected that claim, saying he continues to work and help run the gas business started by his wife’s late husband.

He now handles much of the daily work himself, including driving the lorry and rebuilding operations.

Before that, he said he took on odd jobs in the village and had experienced financial hardship.

He also found that family life had felt awkward at first, especially because the eldest child was his age, reported Mingguan Wanita, but added that the children eventually became close to him.

The youngest, he said, is particularly attached to him.

Open to remarriage

Wan Nazihah said she had remained open to remarriage after spending five years as a widow, but had prayed for guidance before agreeing to marry again.

She recalled that Azmirullah first approached her through Facebook by reacting to her pictures before their conversations gradually became more serious, reported Harian Metro.

Not long after, he proposed.

She said she accepted because she saw him as a responsible and sincere person, despite his young age at the time.

She added:

“He may be younger, but he is mature and responsible."

Wan Nazihah also said social media criticism has never affected her, adding that negative comments are inevitable whenever people see relationships that fall outside expectations.

For her, she said, what matters most is that both of them remain happy together.

Top images via azmirullah.azan/Facebook