Child marriage a wrong, unacceptable practice — Minister

MIRI: Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah views the case of a 41-year- old man, who allegedly took an 11-year- old girl as his third wife, as being ‘legally wrong and unacceptable’.

According to her, the law is very clear when it comes to such cases as it is aimed at protecting underage girls from such situations.

“The law is very clear on this. She is still a child and hardly an adolescent. Biologically, physically, emotionally, she is still a child and as such, is not yet ready to shoulder the responsibility of a being wife and a mother,” said Fatimah when contacted yesterday.

She pointed out that for underage girls, consent must be obtained from the Syariah Court for a marriage to be recognised.

Fatimah was responding to news reports about the man – said to be an imam of a surau in Gua Musang, Kelantan – allegedly marrying the 11-year- old Thai girl.

Various news outlets reported that the marriage solemnisation took place in Golok, a border town in southern Thailand.

The imam has two wives and six children, aged between five and 18. One of his children is said to be friends with the new bride prior to the alleged marriage.

The girl and her parents are Thai nationals living in Gua Musang where the parents work as rubber tappers.