“Child Marriage is Common, Let’s Focus on Bigger Issues Like LGBT,” Says Kelantan Deputy MB

Malaysians were disgusted and shocked when we recently found out that an 11-year-old girl from Thailand married a 41-year-old man from Kelantan. Upon learning the news, many pleaded the government to end child marriage because it isn’t ethical to force a child to marry, especially a minor.

However, one particular person actually thinks that we shouldn’t worry about child marriage as it is common in Kelantan. Instead, he thinks that we should worry about much bigger problems in the state like LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender). Really, bruh? 

Kelantan’s deputy Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said that the people should be concerned about “bigger issues” like LGBT and illicit sex instead of amplifying the detrimental effects of child marriage, reported The Malay Mail.

He was quoted as saying,

“I feel this issue should not be sensationalised. Like I always said, the issue of ‘zina’ (adultery), children born out of wedlock, gays and lesbians, are bigger issues for the country.”

“This issue is not wrong in religion, and should not be amplified as a national issue. It is an isolated case, not all men marry an 11-year-old.”

Pretty sure most Malaysians don’t feel the same. 

Source: my newshub

Besides that, he also stressed that the “illegal marriage” didn’t take place in Kelantan but in southern Thailand.

If you didn’t know, according to the Narathiwat Islamic Religious Council, an imam married the couple in Kampung Padang Nyor, Mukim Munok, Sungai Golok, Thailand.

Source: fmt

Fortunately, despite the deputy MB’s statement, Kelantan police have reportedly opened an investigation following the concerning case. Kelantan’s police chief Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan said that even though there’s no “criminal element” in this marriage, the case was opened because the 11-year-old was still a minor. That’s good to hear; hopefully, they will get to the bottom of this soon! 

IMO, the deputy MB has certainly made an absurd statement following this child bride issue. Hopefully, he would change his perception and see that child marriage is a major problem that’s hurting society.

What do you think of his statement? Let us know in the comments below! 

Also read: “41yo Man Investigated by Authorities For Sexual Grooming of 11yo Child Bride,” Says DPM