1,121 underage marriage applications received last year - Rohani

There were 827 applications for marriage below 16 years from the Muslim community last year, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.

She said the Sarawak Council for Native Customs and Traditions recorded 294 such marriages for the same year.

"While such marriage for non-Muslims is void under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976," she said in a written reply at the Dewan Rakyat here Wednesday.

She was replying to a question by Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai) on the number of marriages involving Malaysians under 16 years old.

Teo also wanted the Women Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) to state the measures taken to ban child marriages as Malaysia had accepted a UN resolution to ban child marriage in October 2013.

Rohani said in Malaysia, marriage laws are under family laws and administered separately for Muslims and non-Muslims.

"Muslim marriage is administered under the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Enactment 1984 and the Islamic Family Law Enactment in the statex which provide for marriage under the age of 16 to obtain the approval of the Shariah Court.

"While for non-Muslims, Section 10 of Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 provides for the minimum age for marriage at 18 years. However, she said if a girl has achieved 16 years, could marry with the approval of the Chief Minister," she said.

She said the marriage customs were implemented and registered under the respective pribumi customs in Sarawak and the Native Courts Enactment 1992 in Sabah.

Meanwhile, Rohani said KPWKM had taken the stand that children should be given the opportunity to realise their full potential.

As such, she said, several measures were taken to combat underage marriage including creating a National Policy in Reproductive Health and Social Education and an action plan, setting up the underage marriage task force as well as kafe@TEEN teenager centre throughout the country to provide information relating to psychosocial issues and counselling.