Ministry to wrap up investigation into child marriages

KUALA LUMPUR: The investigation and comprehensive case review by the authorities into child marriage in the country, especially the one involving a 41-year-old man and an 11-year-old girl in Kelantan, is expected to be completed soon.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, in a statement yesterday, said it was to ensure that appropriate and definitive legal action could be taken against offenders.

The ministry said it held strongly to the principle that children should be given the opportunity to develop their full potential, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“The ministry would like to take this opportunity to provide an update and clarification regarding the issue of child marriages in Malaysia, in particular pertaining to a recent high-profile case of child marriage involving a 41-year-old man and an 11year-old girl in Kelantan.

“We hold strongly to the principle that marriage at such a young age should not happen and strongly oppose marriages involving young children, especially to an adult.

“The ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers will be working closely to ensure justice prevails and the rights of the child are upheld,” it said.

The statement said the case had exposed the larger picture of thousands of child marriages in the country and it was a systemic problem that needed a rootcause analysis, as well as a permanent solution.

“Towards a long-term solution, the ministry is working together with the Prime Minister’s Department to raise the minimum age of marriage in all relevant laws to 18 years old.

“This will involve the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territory) Act 1984, Islamic Family Law Ordinance (Sarawak) 2001, Islamic Family Law Enactments of each state, Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, and the customary laws of ethnic groups in Sarawak.

“The government also welcomes the timely announcement by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council on its suggestion to raise the minimum age of marriage for Muslim girls to 18 years old. It is hoped that similar initiatives are spearheaded by all states towards standardising a minimum age of marriage in Malaysia.”

Besides reforming the law and public policy, parents were told to be aware of the negative impact of child marriage.

The ministry said it needed to educate communities that these practices were wrong and that education and training opportunities, not child marriage, would ensure a brighter future for the children.

It said the ministry had also taken systematic steps to engage all stakeholders, including women and child rights non-governmental organisations, several Malaysian religious scholars and muftis, as well as the syariah court, on this issue.

The ministry said the Welfare Department was monitoring such cases closely, and it was working closely with the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and Economic Affairs Ministry to eradicate poverty, improve standard of living for rural communities and provide economic empowerment, particularly for women, to ensure that families did not choose child marriage as a means of survival.