Sex before marriage main reason for underage marriages, says K'tan, Pahang mufti

SHAH ALAM – The recent announcement by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry not to ban underage marriages created a backlash and was seen as a U-turn to eradicate the long-standing child marriage issue.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun had said although the government has no intention to ban child marriage they remain committed to curbing the practices in the country.

Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad said the government is allowed to come up with rules over underage marriages to ensure the wellbeing of the people is followed according to specific procedures.

“Underage marriages are only allowed if the shariah court agrees,” he told Sinar Daily when contacted.

He added sex before marriage was one of the reasons for underage marriage and tying the knot was the only way to solve the problem.

Mohamad added economic problems were not the main concern in deciding a marriage as that could be overcome with proper planning.

“More marriage counseling courses are needed, not just the present two-day pre-marriage courses,” he said.

Weighing on the same issue, Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman said those below 18 need to get approval from Shariah courts before marriage. “It needs the approval of Shariah courts, we cannot compare Islamic laws to customary laws,” he told Sinar Daily.

He said sometimes parents disagree with the marriage but due to circumstances, such as sex before marriage, the marriage is held.

In January 2020, former deputy prime minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail announced a five year plan to eradicate underage marriages. Under the plan, the six main causes of underage marriage identified were low income and poverty, lack of access to sexual reproductive health education and parenting skills, as well as lack of access to education and poor school attendance.

Other causes include stigma and social norms on underage marriages chosen as the best solution in society to address problems, loose laws that provide for marriage under 18 and coordination of marriage and divorce data.

The plan covers not only Muslims marriages under the Shariah courts, but also non-Muslim and traditional or adat marriages involving the Orang Asli in the peninsula and the natives in Sabah and Sarawak.

Among the programmes involved are strengthening existing socio-economic support and outreach programmes, raising the minimum age limit of marriage to 18 years for girls and providing child-friendly reproductive health services for both children and adolescents (men and women).