Wan Azizah says she is committed to ending child marriages

PETALING JAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (pix) has stressed that she is against child marriages and does not condone the practice amidst recent criticism of the government's handling of the matter.
She said this following criticism against comments she made recently on the marriage of a 15-year-old girl to a 44-year-old divorcee in Kelantan, in which she said that the marriage was based on mutual consent as the union was sanctioned by the Tumpat Syariah court in Kelantan.
"I wish to reiterate that I am against child marriages and do not condone it. The best interest of the child must always be considered. What I said was just a descriptive statement of what the child explained to my officers," she said in a statement today.
The girl, who was the youngest of thirteen siblings was reportedly given consent by her parents to marry the 44-year-old father of two because the girl's family was suffering from poverty.
"Marriage should not be used as a way out of poverty," she continued.
She also stressed the importance for the federal government to raise the minimum marriage age to 18 years old.
"As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, I reiterate that we will raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 years of age," she said.
She said that in light of this a meeting with stakeholders was held last Thursday and a number of actions will be taken:
1. A paper will be prepared by the Islamic development department Jakim and Her ministry to raise the marriage age for Muslims. This paper will then be presented to the Mesyuarat Mentri Besar dan Ketua Mentri (Meeting of Mentris Besar and Chief Ministers) to garner support from the states to raise the legal minimum age. Selangor's move to raise the minimum age for marriage to 18 should be emulated by other states.
2. A Cabinet Paper is also being prepared to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 for non-Muslims.

3. For customary marriages, the respective customary heads will be informed of the dangers of underage marriages to the health and safety of the child and why a minimum age is so important.
She said that these things will take time to implement and while waiting, her ministry will be in talks with the Syariah law department to tighten up guidelines to make child marriage stricter and more thorough.
"Risk factors of pregnancy and childbirth at such a young age must be taken into account," she said.
"I have also spoken to the Minister in charge of Religious Affairs Datuk Dr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Law & Parliamentary Affairs Minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong to look at the loopholes and inconsistencies between Syariah and Civil laws in relation to child marriages," she said.
She said that amending laws is only part of the solution. A holistic approach must include education, welfare nets, poverty eradication and support systems.