Special task force to study issues of underage marriage

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, through the Advisory Council for Child Protection, has set up a special task force, comprising members of the relevant agencies, academicians and children's rights activists, to look deep into the issues of underage marriage.

In a statement issued today, the ministry said allowing underage children to get married without solid reasons was tantamount to putting the burdens and heavy responsibilities of being husband and wife or parents on their shoulders.

"If they are not ready to shoulder those heavy responsibilities, it is feared that more divorce will occur at young age," the statement said.

In fact, the ministry believed that it would also affect the children's development, be it psychological, emotional and physical.

As such, the ministry proposed that two reports - a health report by a medical doctor and a social report by a child psychologist - be prepared as a compulsory requirement in an underage marriage application.

These two reports will help a syarie judge (for cases involving Muslims) or chief minister, menteri besar or federal territories minister (as stated under subsection 21(2), Act 164 (for cases involving non-Muslims), to make their decisions on any applications for underage marriage, the statement said.

Meanwhile, minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim when launching the Tun Dr Siti Hasmah VIP Lounge at the Women's Institute of Management (WIM) here today, said the ministry was planning to turn the institute as its strategic partner in empowering women participation in various fields.

She said the institute was chosen because of its outstanding performance ever since its establishment in 1993.

In her immediate response, WIM chairman Tan Sri Napsiah Omar welcomed the proposal to expand the various programmes under the institutes.

"However, this matter is still being discussed and will be taken to the ministry next year," she said.

The VIP Lounge was launched as an appreciation for the deeds and contributions of former Prime Minister's wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali to all programmes organised by WIM.

WIM is a non-governmental organisation, which does not receive annual grant from the government, but rather moved by its members who work voluntarily to further develop the institute.