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FOR many people, choosing a life partner often involves a checklist of expectations—financial stability, physical appearance or even age. But for one Malaysian couple, love and sincerity proved far more important than any conventional criteria.
Azmirullah Azan, 28, says he has spent the past seven years happily married to his wife, Wan Nazihah Wan Awang, 51, despite the 23-year age difference between them.
Their relationship, which began in 2019, continues to draw attention, but the couple insists that mutual respect and commitment have always been the foundation of their marriage.
The two first connected on Facebook in May 2019. What began as a simple online interaction quickly developed into a deeper connection. Just three months after getting to know one another, they decided to get married in August of the same year.
Azmirullah, who is from Gong Badak in Terengganu, said the decision came naturally as they discovered a strong sense of compatibility. At the time, Wan Nazihah was a single mother raising five children and managing a small business that had slowed down.
“I initially offered to help her manage the business,” he recalled.
“My intention was simply to support her, but eventually we realised we wanted to build a life together.”
He believes their marriage was meant to be, describing it as a blessing that unfolded unexpectedly. Both families supported their decision from the beginning, including Nazihah’s children. In fact, her eldest child is around the same age as Azmirullah.
Seven years later, Azmirullah says their bond remains strong. The couple spend most of their time together, often attending social gatherings side by side.
He said he has never felt embarrassed introducing Nazihah as his wife—even when strangers assume she might be his mother.
“Some people make that mistake, but it doesn’t bother me.”
“I’m proud to say she is my wife"
Like many couples who break social norms, they have also faced criticism. Online comments have occasionally accused Azmirullah of marrying Nazihah for financial security. He rejects such claims, noting that he continues to work alongside his wife in her cooking gas business.
“I’m not someone who just sits back and enjoys life,” he said. “We work together, and I’ve learned a lot from her.”
Nazihah, meanwhile, shared that she spent five years as a single mother after her first husband died in 2014 due to complications from diabetes. During that time, she prayed for a good partner who could support her and her family.
She said Azmirullah was the one who first reached out on social media, initially by liking her posts before starting a conversation. When he later proposed marriage, she sought spiritual guidance through prayers before accepting.
“I believed he was a good man. After praying for guidance, everything seemed to fall into place,” she said.
Nazihah describes her husband as mature and responsible despite his young age when they married. While some online critics still question their relationship, she remains unfazed.
“For me, there’s nothing strange about it. There are many women who have younger partners. What matters is understanding and responsibility,” she added.
Today, after seven years of marriage, the couple say they remain grateful for the life they have built together—one that began with a simple online connection and grew into a partnership that defies expectations. – March 12, 2026