SUPP Dudong wants child marriage illegalised
SIBU: SUPP Dudong branch says child marriage should be made illegal regardless of whether the marriage is executed on religious or cultural ground.
The branch’s assistant secretary Dr Wong Chya Wei, said tightening the law on child marriage is not enough to protect the rights of the child.
He was responding to a recent statement by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in parliament that the Pakatan Harapan government would tighten the law on child marriage.
“Currently, Malaysia allows marriage below the age of 18, except in certain states such as Selangor and Johor where it has been abolished.
“The reason that we should impose a minimal marriage age is for the protection of our children, both physically and mentally,” Dr Wong said.
He added that children below 18 are considered minors and are subjected to protection by law, for example prohibiting them from buying cigarettes and alcoholic drinks.
“They are also considered not matured enough to vote in our election,” he told reporters at a press conference at the branch office yesterday.
Dr Wong said children should be nurtured, educated and allowed to explore their environment in order for them to grow up both physically and mentally.
“They should not be subjected to abuse, to be used as a sex object,” he added.
According to him, Wan Azizah has mentioned that amendments, among others, will include the requirements that social, health and police reports are submitted for application for underage marriages, which comes under the purview of the Home Ministry.
“We would like to counter that underage marriages should not be allowed at all,” Dr Wong reiterated, adding that underage marriage would put the girls under serious physical harm.
“Their physical and mental well- beings should be allowed to flourish as in normal circumstances,” he pointed out.
Globally, an estimated 12 million girls are married every year before they reach the age of 18, Dr Wong noted.
“That is more than 32,000 girls a day or almost 23 girls every minute who were married off too soon. The primary reasons are poverty and lack of education,” he reasoned.
According to him, under civil law in Malaysia, non- Muslim boys could only marry from the age of 18. But non- Muslim girls could marry as young as 16, provided they get the permission of the Chief Minister or Menteri Besar.
“For Muslims, the minimum age to get married is 16 for girls and 18 for boys, but exceptions can be made for girls or boys to marry at a younger age as long as they obtain the consent of the Syariah court.
“We urge our Sarawak Government to amend our state law to prohibit underage marriage in Sarawak to protect our young generation so that they can grow in an environment that allows them to mature and contribute to the State during their adulthood.
“We urge the Federal Government under PH to honour their manifesto in this aspect and to work for abolishment of poverty and improve our education systems. These should be the priority of the government,” Dr Wong said.