How Malaysia can get serious about child marriage

Strategic campaign: Protesters of child marriage at the “Walk the Talk to End Child Marriage” rally organised by women’s groups in 2018. — The Star

IN 2018, news of a 41-year-old man marrying an 11-year-old girl in Kelantan caused outrage with many people demanding the Malaysian government take a stronger stance to ban child marriages.

Malaysia has been criticised for not doing enough to address child marriage and is under pressure to lift its game. Selangor and Kedah are the only states to have increased the legal minimum age of marriage to 18. Many scholars have explained marriage below the age of 18 is an irresponsible action leading to uncertainty in married life. This uncertainty has led to long-term economic impacts, domestic violence, divorce and psychological issues for girls at a very young age.