For heartbroken husband, life goes on after Maya K 
Jul 13 2010, 07:26 PM, updated 16y ago
For heartbroken husband, life goes on after Maya
By Melissa Zavier
July 13, 2010
Shorthose had believed his marriage to Maya would be “everlasting”. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Divorce is never easy but when you have to do it in public, it takes on a whole new dimension. Steven Shorthose and actress Maya Karin have been dubbed “the only couple in the world who are getting married so they can get divorced.”
That is because the couple failed to register their 2008 marriage (in Italy) with the Malaysian Registrar of Marriages when they returned home. Late last month, they both went to the Syariah Court to register their marriage even though it was widely known that they were separated.
Still, Shorthose (who is also known as Muhammad Ali Abdullah) remains optimistic about love and marriage. “Marriage is great, I like the idea of marriage”, he says.
“I am sad that this marriage is ending with a divorce. I believed in my wedding vows,” adds the Alice Smith School teacher.
Still, Shorthose is uneasy about being at the centre of a media circus. Comments posted online accuse him of being a typical “Mat Salleh” (Westerner) who dumps his spouse once the relationship becomes “stale.”
“I read them all and laughed it off because that is not the truth”, he says. “I have heard of these stereotypes about Caucasians and men that I don’t think are fair. Being a Caucasian man, I’ll get the worst of both worlds. But each case should be taken individually and based on truth.”
Maya reportedly said they were trying to patch things up. — file pic
As to the theory that it was cultural differences which led to the breakdown, Shorthose says, “I’ve worked in Manila, Philippines as a teacher. I adapt to the Asian culture very well. I have no problems with culture, basically. It’s not fair to blame it on cultural factors because cultural issues are unlikely to come up after nine years.”
Shorthose and Maya had been long-time sweethearts before their marriage in Italy. “I thought I would be married forever because I believe marriage should be everlasting and only happen once”, he says.
“I am not happy about [becoming] a divorcee. I feel that time has been wasted,” he adds.
Shorthose says he never imagined things would come to this.
“I am sad about the whole thing but I was told it’s only natural to feel displaced. Time will heal eventually, I just hope it does not take too long, but I would like to believe that I know when to ‘let go’ and that I have done the right thing.”
However, he refutes his wife’s claims that they were working things out.
“We are not working on the marriage as reported in the papers. I moved out early this year.”
Shorthose says he has been going out a lot more often these days to keep his mind off things. He also plays football for the YTL group and goes regularly to the gym.
He was more than happy to talk about the football team, anything to get off the subject of his marriage. “We are called the Blue Angels. I know the name sounds funny... I have been playing since February and the players have been really supportive.”
Shorthose also adds that he will remain a Muslim even after the divorce. “Being a Muslim for six years, I don’t see Islam in a different light because of what happened to me. Things happen for a reason,” he claims.
He says he will continue to live and work in Malaysia. “The place I work at is great. Plus, the school board has been very supportive and understanding. I want to teach until I get too old to do so,” he jokes.
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