Harapan told to follow Indonesia's example in raising legal marriage age

The Pakatan Harapan government should emulate Indonesia's move to raise the legal marriage age to 19, said Wanita MCA chief Heng Seai Kie.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, yesterday saw bipartisan support in its parliament to raise the legal marriage age for women, originally set at 16, now to be equalised with males at 19.

"Being the most populous Muslim nation in the world, Indonesia has shown the world how progressive and serious it is in overcoming child marriages in its archipelago.

"Wanita MCA hopes such legislative amendments at both federal and state levels (in Malaysia) will likewise secure unanimous support irrespective of political identity," she said in a statement today.

In Malaysia, under civil law, the legal marriage age is 18 but those as young as 16 can still marry if permission is obtained from the state's chief minister.

The law governing Muslims differs from state to state as Islamic affairs fall under the respective states but the general legal marriage age 16 though it is possible to marry at a younger age with the Syariah Court's permission.

Heng said considering the outrage involving child marriages, including the case of a 41-year-old man marrying an 11-year-old girl in Kelantan last year, Malaysia should follow Indonesia's example.

Heng said the issue had fallen into oblivion due to "inactivity and apathy" by Deputy Prime Minister and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Hannah Yeoh.

"The Harapan government can salvage its sinking reputation if it wields the courage and boldness to table a bill to outlaw child marriage and increase the legal marriage age to 18 years," she said.

The government had previously said it was facing challenges in trying to get buy-in from all states where Islamic affairs are within the jurisdiction of the state's respective rulers.