Citizen Nades - What’s the fuss over Huckle?

ALMOST everyone has gone rah-rah on the issue except the stray dogs that bark at every moving object in the neighbourhood. Everyone wants to give their views. The horses may have run away from the stable, but now everyone is rushing in wanting to bolt the door.
The do-gooders want their pound of flesh; the police want to impress that they have done their duties; the politicians want to score brownie points and some self-appointed guardians too want their say without looking at themselves in the mirror.
Even the Wanita MCA weighed in describing its horror that after 23 years in prison, the convict could, at the age of 53, come out of jail and continue to offend.
While addressing the issue of activities of British paedophile Richard Huckle, they have avoided an issue that is closer to home and dear to the hearts of almost every right-thinking Malaysian – child marriages.
The hypocrites who had previously shut their eyes, closed their ears and gagged their mouths when 12-year-olds were seated on the wedding dais have suddenly got into the act for getting that five minutes of fame.
In Malaysia, civil law dictates the legal minimum age for marriage is 18 for both genders, while those under the permissible age need to obtain the approval from the mentri besar or chief minister of the state.
The marriageable age under Islamic laws is 18 for boys and 16 for girls. The syariah court holds the authority to give consent to Muslim girls under 16 who wish to get married. They or their parents can apply at any marriage, divorce and reconciliation counter at their respective state religious departments.
According to the Syariah Judiciary Department, there were 10,240 child marriage applications made from 2005 to 2015, which saw highest applications from Sarawak (2,064), Kelantan (1,929) and Terengganu (924).
The figures are startling indeed. Many individuals and groups have been raking so much muck over Richard Huckle. However, why are they not making even louder noises on the issue of marriages involving children – some as young as 12?
When it comes to child marriages, our lawmakers and politicians seem to take a different stand. The speeches made by lawmakers on both sides of the divide in Parliament speak volumes of the double standards.
PAS lawmaker Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad argued in Parliament recently that banning child marriages may lead to rampant casual sex involving underage girls. He said it will become a major issue because these "girls have a lust for sex", with no evidence to support his claim.
Not to be outdone, even the backbench resisted attempts for a ban on child marriages. Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid from the ruling party defended child marriages, claiming that the sensitivity for the underage marriage should be respected.
Questioning Malaysia's signing the United Nations Human Rights Council's resolution to end child marriages, he asked if the 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide are so stupid in handling the issue of underage marriages?
"MPs should be sensitive, there must be a reason we do this," he said hitting out at opponents of child marriages.
The government too seems to condone child marriages. Neither is it taking any effort in discouraging them. In her winding up speech in Parliament in April, Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Azizah Mohd Dun said Malaysia is not bound by the UN resolution to end child marriages. So, why sign the agreement?
She also claimed her ministry does not deal with child marriage as the matter is not stipulated in the Child Act, but under Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act and Syariah Enactment.
Coming back to YB Noor Ehsanuddin, what sensitivity, one may ask. This is the Malaysian malaise – when everything else fails, throw in the religious or the race card.
Culture, religion and customs should not be used as excuses to not accept international standards in human rights.
As lawmakers, they are expected to understand the consequences and take cognisance that child marriages lead to negative consequences.
Girls married off at a young age are often alienated and have their education interrupted. And yet, the same lawmakers thump their chests and congratulate themselves that we have the "highest level of literacy".
Without basic education, the young girls become economically dependent on the husband and this could trap them in an abusive marriage.
Besides, at that age, they are immature and are open to mental, physical and sexual abuse as they are not street-wise – lacking knowledge and life experience.
So, what's all this big fuss over Huckle when this country has legally allowed over 10,000 men to have sex with children?
R. Nadeswaran asks: Would you marry off your 12-year-old sister or daughter? Why then are you keeping silent on child marriages? Comments: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com