GEORGE TOWN: Penang is looking into increasing the minimum age for marriages in the state to 18 years-old, from 16 years-old currently.
Its Women, Family, Community Development and Gender Inclusivity Committee chairman Chong Eng (PH-Padang Lalang) said she would request the state legal adviser to look into the matter.
She said this will also include the possibility of amending the Islamic Family Law (State of Penang) Enactment 2004, which stated that the female Muslim could only marry above the age of 16.
“Young marriage is likely to end in divorce.
“They are still young, they should be allowed to get married after they reached 18 years old,” she said in her winding up speech at the state legislative assembly sitting last night.
Elaborating, Chong said the laws should be amended according to the times and need.
“We have to use our common sense as well when dealing with this,” she added.
Social media went abuzz last month with a posting by a woman who claimed her 41-year-old husband had married an 11-year-old.
The marriage, where the bride was a Thai Muslim girl, was consented by the girl’s parents.
The man was slapped with RM1,800 fine for marrying the girl without the Kelantan Syariah Court consent.