The federal government supports child marriage reform, but implementation remains subject to approval by individual state authorities.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry supports efforts to raise the minimum marriage age to 18 nationwide, but says any legislative changes ultimately depend on state governments.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said marriage laws fall under state jurisdiction, which limits the federal government’s authority in implementing such reforms.
“This is an issue that concerns us. However, marriage laws are under the authority of the states,” she said.
“We can raise our concerns and engage with state governments, but the final decision rests with them,” she told reporters after launching the Office of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Tribunal (TAGS) and of the e-TAGS System ceremony here today.
Nancy said only a small number of states have amended their laws to set the minimum marriage age at 18.
“We hope more states will take similar steps so that there can eventually be greater harmonisation, but marriage remains a matter under state jurisdiction,” she said.
Earlier, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) children’s commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki had called for a nationwide minimum marriage age of 18 for Muslims, while allowing minors aged 16 and 17 to marry only with court approval in exceptional circumstances.
She said the proposed reform is intended to safeguard children’s rights, education and health, while ensuring marriage remains an option for minors only under strict conditions.
Currently, Selangor and Kedah are the only states that have set the minimum marriage age for Muslims at 18.
