A 33-year-old man in northern Malaysia has married a 104 year-old woman, saying mutual respect and friendship had turned to love.

It was Muhamad Noor Che Musa’s first marriage and his wife’s 21st, according to reports in the country.

Muhamad, an ex-army serviceman, said he found peace and a sense of belonging after meeting Wook Kundor, whom he said he initially sympathised with because she was childless, old and alone, the report said.

“I am not after her money, as she is poor,” Muhamad reportedly said. “Before meeting Wook, I never stayed in one place for long.”

He said he hoped to help his new bride to master Roman script while she taught him Islamic religious knowledge.

The report did not say if any of Wook’s previous 20 husbands are still alive. Malaysian Muslim men are allowed by their religion to take up to four wives at a time, but reports of women who marry more than once are rare.