Child marriage in Malaysia – A case of weak politicians and misplaced priority
Every child deserves to be educated and nurtured with care in their formative years.
Child marriage – would instead be putting children’s future at risk.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh announced that 14,999 child marriages were recorded between 2007 and 2017.
And the consequences of child marriages are devastating.
For starters, teen moms and their babies are both at higher risk of dying during childbirth.
In fact, complications due to pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death globally among adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19.
There is an increased risk of sexually transmitted disease, cervical cancer and premature birth.
Child marriage is also driven by poverty.
Statistics show that the highest number of child marriage happen in poverty-stricken states such as Sarawak, Kelantan and Sabah.
So, child marriage – the list can go on and on.
Recently, the Negeri Sembilan state government stood by its decision in not banning child marriages.
“Actually, the state government policy on the matter is a bit strict, we do allow underage marriage but it must get approval from the Syariah court first,” said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
However, a study on Syariah Courts cases pertaining to child marriages revealed that out of 2,143 applications, only 10 were rejected.
So, how strict is a BIT strict?
One of the promises made under Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto was to ban child marriages and raise the minimum age of marriage to 18.
Shouldn’t protecting our children be a priority for the government?
Or is the manifesto as what Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir had said, ‘it’s not a bible’?
Uqbah Soperi
