Indian-origin pilot marries Chinese colleague

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 15, 2010

Two fighter pilots - one of Indian origin and the other of Chinese origin - of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) have got married in one of the military's first inter-racial weddings.

Captain S. Thayala Kumar Ravi Varman, an ethnic Indian, married Major Patricia Yapp Syau Yin, a Chinese Christian, senior to him professionally and in age.

Patricia, 34, is an operational and tactical lead pilot with the Smokey Bandits Squadron, while Thayala Kumar, 32, is an instructor who trains weapons sensor officers, the New Straits Times reported Sunday.

After tying the knot in a traditional Hindu ceremony at the Sri Raja Rajeswary temple in Ampang, they proceeded for Christian ceremony at the Church of Our Lady Of Guadalupe in Puchong.

Guests included RMAF Operations Commander Lt. Gen. Datuk Bashir Abu Bakar. Thayala Kumar's parents K. Selvakumaran and A. Selvejothy, and Patricia's parents Yapp Chew Poh and Heng Hong Meng were present.

The two have known each other for 13 years.

Patricia is temporarily "grounded" from flying duties as she is expecting "and no, she does not pull rank on her hubby despite being his superior officer", the newspaper said.