‘ Underage marriage to curb pre-marital sex’

> Practice allowed with approval by syariah courts, says minister

KUALA LUMPUR: Underage marriages are allowed to prevent adultery or pre-marital sex, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom ( pix).

Jamil said a total of 238 underage marriages have been approved in the Federal Territories since 2010.

“In Islam, co-habitating before marriage or pre-marital sex is prohibited, thus such marriages are allowed,” Jamil said.

“Underage marriage is not allowed in Islam unless it is allowed by the syariah courts based on certain approved reasons, and not a blanket approval. This is provided for in the state Islamic Family Enactment or Act,” he said in reply to Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (DAPBeruas). Ngeh had asked the government to state the total number of underage marriage applications that was approved by the syariah courts from 2010 to 2017.

Jamil said the applicants, who are minors, must obtain permission from both their parents first in order to obtain approval for the marriage.

The syariah courts, he added, will then make its consideration on the application based on various aspects.

However, Jamil admitted that to date, there was no holistic study done by the syariah courts on the causes of such marriages.

He said there is no study to show that socio-economic background, urban and rural settings and so on have an impact in causing underage marriages.

“Nevertheless, there are also applications for underage marriages that are not approved for specific reasons.”

Applications were rejected when an applicant have an unsatisfactory behavioural assessment from school, have poor religious and family knowledge, among others.