‘REVIEW UNDERAGE MARRIAGE LAWS’
Minister calls for review of laws that allow these marriages
MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa has condemned underage marriages and wants a review of laws that allow such marriages to take place.
Mujahid, who is minister in charge of Islamic affairs, said a consensus needed to be reached among syariah and civil lawmakers on what could be done to improve child rights.
“We need to improve the laws by having syariah and civil lawmakers sit together to come to a consensus in meeting the needs of child rights,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.
He said his ministry was ready to meet stakeholders, including the Syariah Judicial Department, to address the matter.
He was quoted as saying that such children were exploited due to their “social status” and factors such as poverty.
“Unfortunately, our laws permit a girl under 16 to marry with permission.
“For (underage) civil law (marriages), they can get permission from menteris besar.
“We want to protect our children from being exploited, especially if the marriage is justified in the name of Islam.
“Islam protects children with care and love so they can grow up and contribute to the nation’s growth.”
He was responding to a statement on Tuesday by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who had said a union between a 41year-old man and an 11-year-old girl in Gua Musang, Kelantan, was under investigation.
Dr Wan Azizah’s statement was criticised by Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Koya, who said the minister’s call for the public not to “jump the gun” and criticise the man on social media was “incomprehensible”.
“Why defend this self-confessed pervert by claiming that the public is ‘lynching’ him?
“Is this an attempt to stifle public discussion of the matter?
“People are entitled to criticise the actions of the culprit and call for an end to child marriages in Malaysia.
“This discussion is important and should be encouraged.”
Latheefa said it was impossible to understand what Dr Wan Azizah meant by “alleged incident” as the man had admitted to the marriage and been fined for it.
“Worse, he has admitted to lusting after the child victim since she was 7.
“It appears to be another attempt by the deputy prime minister to downplay this case.”
She said it was baffling that Wan Azizah claimed that multiple agencies were investigating the matter despite the fact the man had confessed to his action.
“What is the necessity for an investigation into this case?
“The public rightly wants action to be taken, not more excuses and stalling.”
She said it was absurd to talk about the family’s “privacy” to be protected when a serious sexual crime had been committed against a child.
“More surprising is that no arrest has been made under anti child-grooming provisions in the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.”
She said the failure to take action in this case is an affront to the rule of law.