Wanita MCA to Putrajaya : Delay no further, raise legal marriage age to 18 years as promised

Wanita MCA stands with the All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) in urging Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to pursue a zero-tolerance stance to child marriage in Malaysia.

The seven states that still disagree to changing their respective state enactments on child marriage ie Sarawak, Pahang, Terengganu, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah and Kelantan must cast aside all political difference and emulate Indonesia on bipartisanship in ending child marriage.

Just only two months ago, all factions in the Parliament of Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation in the world, approved legislation to raise the legal marriage for brides to be 19 years. Thus, there should be no reason for the seven states in Malaysia to dither on this issue.

Wanita MCA reiterates that exploitation of destitute families and child grooming by paedophiles will permeate to manipulate (read: blackmail) financially stressed families into surrendering their minor child who will thus be susceptible to sexual violence albeit “protected” under the guise of “marriage”.

Malaysia is just 6 weeks away from Vision 2020.  Not only should the Pakatan Harapan government aim to accomplish developed nation status by 2020 as mooted by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad during his first tenure as Prime Minister, and with the Shared Prosperity Vision in mind, being a fully developed nation must include holistic development which includes safeguarding the rights of minor children.

Besides that, the SPV should also aim to wipe out poverty due to illiteracy caused by interrupted education, health issues owing to pre-teen pregnancies and underage child birth. Will the authorities be present should the pre-adolescent or young teenager experiences depression, emotional, psychological and physical trauma in trying to make sense of being sexually violated, yet having to raise a family, while other neighbours enjoy a “normal childhood” of going to school and getting an education?

It has been more than a year since the two child marriage cases in Gua Musang and Tumpat caused an uproar. These were the cases which made it to the news whilst scores of other underage marriages have eluded headline-grabbing attention.

Almost immediately after the news broke, the Women’s Minister and her deputy Hannah Yeoh had then promised to amend legislation to raise the legal marriage age to 18 years, but todate, progress remains lacking. It is thus incumbent on Putrajaya in taking the lead to amend the related legislation now.

We strongly believe that doing so will help recover some confidence for Pakatan after their thrashing at the Tanjung Piai by-election and suspicion over PKR Deputy President Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali hosting a gathering for UMNO MPs at his residence.

Datuk Heng Seai Kie
Wanita MCA National Chairperson

-MCA online-