PUTRAJAYA: The government has initiated moves to raise the legal minimum age of marriage from 16 to 18.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry have been directed to prepare a paper to raise the age of marriage for Muslims.
“This paper will then be presented to the Meeting of Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers to garner support from the states.
“Selangor’s move to raise the minimum age for marriage to 18 should be emulated by the other states,” said Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, in a statement today.
She added that a Cabinet Paper was also being prepared to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 for non-Muslims.
For customary marriages, Dr Wan Azizah said the respective customary heads would be informed of the dangers of underage marriages to the health and safety of a child.
“Amending the law takes time. While waiting for that to take place, the ministry will meet the Syariah Judiciary Department on stricter and more thorough guidelines for Syariah court judges in approving child marriages.”
The deputy prime minister said she had also spoken to the minister in charge of Religious Affairs, Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Datuk Liew Vui Keong to look at loopholes and inconsistencies between Syariah and civil laws in relation to child marriages.
“I have also instructed my officers to examine current laws to ensure the welfare of children is taken care of.
“Amending laws is only part of the solution. A holistic approach must include education, welfare nets, poverty eradication and support systems.
“The protection and rights of children is of paramount importance to me and I will not compromise on that matter,” she said, adding that marriage should not be used as a way out of poverty.
Dr Wan Azizah also highlighted the risk factors of pregnancy and childbirth at such a young age, which she said must be taken into account.
The deputy prime minister also clarified her recent statement on the marriage of the 15-year-old to the 44-year-old divorcee in Kelantan which she explained was based on a report from Welfare Department officers.
“The report stated that the marriage was sanctioned by the Tumpat syariah lower court and is legal according to current laws.
“I wish to reiterate that I am against child marriages and do not condone it. The best interest of the child must always be considered.
“What I said was just a descriptive statement of what the child explained to my officers.”