Follow SOP on underage marriages, Mujahid tells syariah judges
KUALA LUMPUR: Syariah court judges handling underage marriages have been reminded to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) approved at the Syariah Judges’ Conference two months ago.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the guidelines for syariah judges were issued after news of a 11-year-old girl’s marriage to a 41-year-old man in Gua Musang, Kelantan, in June, came to light.
“The main objective was to tighten existing procedures in relation to underage marriages, but only Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur are following the guidelines.
“The marriage involving a 15year-old girl in Tumpat, Kelantan, recently, occurred because the judge did not follow the approved SOPs,” he said after officiating a Maal Hijrah 1440H celebration here on Thursday.
He said among the rules were that parents needed to register marriage applications for minors and checking the family’s background, including psychological and health assessments.
“Only then can the syariah judge make a decision, but the guidelines clearly state that poverty cannot be used as an excuse to allow an underage marriage,” Mujahid said.
“We are considering setting the age limit at 18 for both men and women.”
Earlier, Mujahid presented the Federal Territories Maal Hijrah award to Malaysian Muslim Scholars Association chairman Datuk Sheikh Abdul Halim Abd Kadir, who is former Terengganu mufti.
Abdul Halim received RM5,000, a trophy and a certificate.