KUALA LUMPUR: A review of Malaysia's efforts to curb child marriage is expected to be completed in early 2027, with the findings set to guide further action to protect girls and prevent underage marriages.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the evaluation of the National Strategic Plan to Address the Causes of Underage Marriage 2020-2025, conducted with UNICEF Malaysia, would assess the plan's effectiveness, identify implementation gaps and determine areas requiring further action.
A separate study by the ministry's Malaysian Social Institute (ISM) is also examining the risk factors, protective factors and prevention strategies relating to child marriage in Malaysia.
"The findings will be used to identify implementation gaps, establish priorities for follow-up action with relevant agencies and examine specific resource requirements," she told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time on Wednesday (Nov 11).
Nancy was responding to Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka), who asked about the key findings of the previous strategic plan, follow-up measures to address child marriage and specific investments in girls' education, protection and well-being.
She said both studies were expected to be completed in early 2027, adding that it would be more appropriate for the Government to present the final findings after they had been completed and examined.
In a supplementary question, Khoo asked whether the studies would include cases involving customary marriages, refugee children and stateless children to ensure a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.
He also sought clarification on the timeline for completing the evaluation, citing global figures showing that one in five marriages involved women who were married before the age of 18.
Nancy said the country's statistics covered civil, Syariah and customary marriages involving children below 18.
She said there were 1,467 recorded cases in 2019, 923 in 2023 and 1,361 in 2024.
The data was compiled from the National Registration Department, Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), state Islamic religious departments, the Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia and the Sarawak Council for Customs and Traditions.
"Based on the findings, the increase in 2024 was partly due to Sarawak having more systematic data collection," she said.
Nancy added that the ministry would continue working with UNICEF and other international agencies, while ensuring its efforts were aligned with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Meanwhile, Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PN-Rantau Panjang) asked about the achievement rate of the previous strategic plan, which comprised seven objectives, 17 strategies and 15 programmes.
She also called for greater coordination between the Federal and state governments to harmonise the minimum marriage age, while raising concerns over teenage pregnancies and the need to strengthen protection for young people.
Nancy said Selangor and Kedah had amended provisions relating to the minimum marriage age for Muslims to 18, adding that changes in other states remained subject to their respective legislative processes.
She explained that Islamic family law fell under state jurisdiction, requiring the ministry to engage state religious authorities, relevant agencies and stakeholders to discuss harmonising the minimum age.
