Laws on minimum marriage age to be streamlined — DPM

KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts are being made to streamline all legislations in the country to set the minimum marriage age at 18 years.

Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the measure was being formulated and would be implemented as a long term solution on underage marriage in Malaysia.

The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said it would be implemented through the involvement of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department on Islamic Affairs and legislations, Home Ministry and state governments including Sabah and Sarawak.

The initiative involved laws such as the Islamic Family Law ( Federal Territory) Act 1984, Islamic Family Enactment and Ordinance in the states, Law Reform ( Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, Native Courts Enactment 1992 in Sabah and various laws on Sarawak pribumi communities, she said during the question and answer session at Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Dr Wan Azizah was replying to a question by Maria Chin Abdullah (PH-Petaling Jaya) who wanted to know the form of laws to protect children and youths from being exploited as well as efforts to ensure they are adhered to by the court in each state.

Dr Wan Azizah said Malaysia has its own customs and culture according to various communities and beliefs while consultations would be held with related experts including paediatricians, cultural and syariah experts in setting the minimum age. — Bernama