Women's groups rally at Sunway Pyramid to end child marriage

PETALING JAYA: Armed with placards and chanting "end child marriage", hundreds of Malaysians marched to the beat of drums at a rally at the Sunway Pyramid mall here amid a heavy downpour.

The "Walk the Talk to End Child Marriage" event – jointly organised by The Body Shop Malaysia, Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Sisters in Islam (SIS), and the Association of Women Lawyers (AWL) – marked the launch of the groups' petition campaign to urge the Government to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 with no exceptions.

WAO vice-president Meera Samanther said the fact that child marriage was happening in Malaysia showed that the nation was failing its children.

"This is not an issue for one community, race or religion to deal with.

"There are many who are attempting to cloud the issue by making it appear that way. But to truly tackle this issue and end child marriage, we must stand together," she said at the rally here on Saturday (Aug 18).

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamarudin turned up to show support, along with Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto, Bukit Malawati assemblyman Juwairiya Zulkifli and activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.

The groups also called on the Government to amend laws such as the Child Act 2001, the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, Islamic Family Law, and the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.

They said the Native Courts Enactment 1992 in Sabah, as well as various native customary laws in Sarawak, should also be amended.

The Body Shop Malaysia managing director Datin Mina Cheah-Foong said in order to completely end child marriage, one also had to beyond legal reform. She said there was a need to change public perception, achieve gender sensitisation, institute comprehensive sexuality education and empower youths.

The petition, which started on Aug 1, has already collected almost 20,000 signatures.

The campaign will go on until Sept 30 before the petition is handed over to the Women, Family and Community Minister and respective Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Religion and Law.

The petition can be found at all The Body Shop stores and online at www.thebodyshop.com.my/wheniwas11.