KUALA LUMPUR: The number of child marriage cases has decreased by 19 per cent, from 1,354 in 2020 to 1,086 in 2021.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said data from the Statistics Department showed that the underage marriage cases in 2020 comprised 1,233 Bumiputera, 63 Chinese, 12 Indians and 46 from other ethnic groups.
She said 1,042 of them were Muslims and 312 were non-Muslims.
"In 2021, a total of 1,086 people under the age of 18 got married, involving 1,001 Bumiputera, 36 Chinese, four Indians and 45 from other ethnic groups.
"Of the total, 962 were Muslims while 124 were non-Muslims," she said in a parliamentary reply to a question from Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong) yesterday.
Nancy said the government was carrying out several plans and programmes under the National Strategic Plan in Handling the Causes of Child Marriage 2020-2025.
"The plan consists of seven objectives, 17 strategies, and 58 programmes, with the involvement of federal and state government agencies, non-governmental organisations and international organisations as the leading and implementing agencies.
"Through the plan, the government has taken various holistic approaches, which not only include legislation, but also education, awareness campaigns on sexual and reproductive health, strengthening the family institution, as well as collecting data and socioeconomic support systems."