Tun Mahathir orders state govts to raise min marriage age to 18

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has ordered all state governments to raise the minimum legal age for marriage to 18 years for both Muslims and non-Muslims.
According to the Malay Mail, Penang exco for Women, Family, Gender Inclusiveness and Non-Islamic Religion Committee chairman Chong Eng confirmed this when contacted today.
She reportedly said that the directive was conveyed to her at a recent state exco meeting which was chaired by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow yesterday.
"Yes, CM Chow reported to the exco meeting yesterday," she reportedly said.
Chong said it would be the prerogative of each state to process the directive.
She added that the Penang government had agreed to the directive and ordered the Penang Islamic Religious Department (JAIPP) to submit a report before the decision is finalised.
Chong added that the Penang Legislative Assembly was also ordered to process Mahathir's directive.
On Tuesday, Mahathir had chaired the 132nd meeting of the mentri besar and chief ministers at Perdana Putra.
This is the first meeting after Pakatan Harapan assumed power.
Several Cabinet members, Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Ismail Bakar and Treasury secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir attended the meeting.