A total of 881 underaged marriages were recorded from 2022 to last year, including 518 teenage girls.
According to a report by Berita Harian, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Naim Mokhtar, shared that Kelantan recorded the highest number of underaged marriages in that time, with 193 marriages registered.
This is followed by:
- Selangor: 133 underaged marriages
- Terengganu: 115 underaged marriages
- Kedah: 126 underaged marriages
- Johor: 73 underaged marriages
- Sabah: 63 underaged marriages
- Pahang: 51 underaged marriages
- Perlis: 39 underaged marriages
- Negeri Sembilan: 38 child marriages
- Federal Territory: 27 underaged marriages
- Melaka: 19 underaged marriages
- Penang: 4 underaged marriages
There is a specific SOP for underage marriages
He further shared that the Malaysian Syariah Judicial Department (JKSM) has prepared a specific standard operating procedure (SOP) for underage marriage applications.
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“This is stated in Circular Letter of the Director General/Chief Syariah Judge of JKSM Number 1 of 2018, which came into effect on September 28, 2018,”
“This SOP strongly emphasises and prioritises the welfare of children who wish to marry, which the Syariah Court must make a thorough and comprehensive assessment based on the SOP before a marriage permit under the minimum age is granted,” he explained.
Datuk Dr Mohd Naim Mokhtar added that the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) is also collaborating with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) to implement the National Strategic Plan to Address the Causes of Underage Marriage.
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