S'pore men seek wives, mistresses in Bintan

S'pore men seek wives, mistresses in Bintan

Agence France-Presse, Singapore

Increasing number of Singaporean men are finding mistresses and wives on Indonesia's Bintan island, with some of them converting to Islam to appease local sentiments, the Sunday Times reported.

Many of them acquire their women from brothels and nightclubs and do not formalize their marriages out of fear their families would find out, the report said.

"There are streets full of babies here by Singapore men," said a 27-year-old security guard.

Sam, a 38 year-old factory worker, converted to Islam in order to marry an Indonesian woman two years ago, but his family still does not know about it.

"His family will be very mad if they ever find out," said Sinta, his Indonesian wife.

According to village chief Syamsul Bahari, half of the 40 men who have sought to build homes in his village are non-Muslims from Singapore.

The Singaporean men -- dubbed "weekend husbands" -- also give their wives and mistresses monthly pocket money of up to S$1,000 (US$578).

For many of the Indonesian women, it is a passport for them to a better life.

"Ugly or handsome, I don't care as long as they can take care of my expenses," said Zai, a 24-year-old who used to be with a Singaporean man.