An incident from 2018 is once again going viral, prompting Malaysians to hope that our country will follow suit in progressing in protecting children from child marriages.
According to a report by New Straits Times, the Thai Islamic authorities had banned children under the age of 17 from getting married after a 41-year-old Malaysian man had married an 11-year-old Thai girl in their country. The ceremony also made the young girl the man’s 3rd wife.
He had married the young girl, who was living in Kelantan, in a ceremony in Southern Thailand after the girl had allegedly gotten permission from her parents. The parents agreed to a Nikah Gantung (suspended marriage), which meant that the Malaysian man had to wait until the girl was 16-years-old in order for them to live together.
Abdul Aziz Che Mamat, who is the Vice President of the Narathiwat Islamic Council shared that the ban was implemented as that incident was a first for them, and was something they never wanted to see again.
“The marriage between the 41-year-old Malaysian man and the 11-year-old Thai girl in 2018 was a blow to Thailand religious authorities especially the (Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT)). This was the first for the council since it was established 30 years ago.”
“Before this, there was no such marriage taking place in Thailand. This was history for us in Thailand,” he said.
Just a few months after the marriage, the ban was announced at all mosques in Thailand.
Considering how quickly the Thai Islamic authorities shut down the possibility of further child marriages in their country, Malaysians are wondering when our country will implement a similar ban.
“I still don’t understand how Malaysia can get away with this.”
It is truly amazing to see how quickly the Thai Islamic authorities quickly shut down child marriages after just 1 case in their country.
Do you think Malaysia will ever follow suit? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
Also read: 533 Underage Marriages Involving 16yo to 18yo Registered in Kelantan Since 2019, Says State ExCo
