Umno's Pengerang MP Azalina Othman said religion should not be used to allow sexual predators to escape punishment through marriage.
She said this in response to Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff who said policies that don't clash with Islam will go on when asked if she will continue with the previous Pakatan Harapan's government push to fight child marriages.
"YB, don't use religion to negate or manipulate protective laws for our children especially the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
"Please don't allow predators to use marriage as a way out (or way in) to justify sexual exploitation," said Azalina on Twitter.
She ended her tweet with the hashtag "#endchildmarriage" and "#girlsnotbrides".
YB, don’t use RELIGION to negate or manipulate protective laws for our children esp the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017. Please don’t allow predators to use marriage as a way out (or way in!) to justify sexual exploitation. #endchildmarriage #girlsnotbrides twitter.com/malaysiakini/s…
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The Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 was passed by Parliament when Azalina served as the de facto law minister.
Siti Zailah's immediate predecessor Hannah Yeoh had expressed concern at Siti Zailah's track record on the national road map to fight child marriage.
Siti Zailah had previously spoken out against the previous Harapan government's push against child marriage.
"We cannot dispute marriage as stated by Kulai (MP Teo Nie Ching), who disputed why Islam allows underage marriage. For me, this is a guidance of Allah," she had said during a debate in the Dewan Rakyat.
When asked about child marriage again yesterday, the newly-appointed deputy women, family and community development minister said: "I am not against good things. Islam prioritises making society better, but it must be based on the Quran and hadith. That is what we believe".
Speaking specifically on the anti-child marriage road map, Siti Zailah said this would have to be reviewed as child marriage has many factors, including poverty, social issues, and customs.
Hence, she said it was not suitable to use a single formula to solve the issue.
The new Perikatan Nasional cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday.
The assembling of the new cabinet came two weeks after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had taken his party out of Harapan and formed the new government in cooperation with PKR defectors, BN, PAS, GPS and other minor parties.
Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister on March 1.
This came amid a split to Bersatu chairperson and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. - Mkini
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