Girl’s parents okayed marriage to 41-year-old man, probe finds

Putrajaya forms special task force to look into the problem of child marriages.

Facebook pic

PETALING JAYA: Initial investigations have found that the marriage between a 11-year-old girl and a 41-year-old man, seen in a social media picture which has sparked outrage among Malaysians, was done with her parents’ consent.

In a statement, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry said an application was submitted to register the marriage, which was solemnised in Golok, Thailand.

The ministry’s probe also found that the girl’s parents are from southern Thailand.

“The agreement between her parents and the husband was that she would only go to live with him after she turns 16,” it said.

Earlier reports said the marriage took place in Gua Musang.

“To date, there are no records either in court or the Gua Musang Religious Office allowing the marriage,” the ministry said.

It said a girl under the age of 16 years must get written consent for marriage from the shariah court, under Section 40 of the Kelantan Islamic Family Law Enactment. Offenders could be sentenced up to RM1,000 or six months’ jail.

The ministry also announced a special task force to be formed by the National Council for Children and Child Welfare, comprising government agencies, academics and child activists, to look into the issue of underage marriages.

A photo of the marriage ceremony which made the rounds on social media has renewed the debate on child marriages in Malaysia.

The photo was believed to have been posted by one of the wives of the man who took the girl as his third wife.

The man reportedly said the girl would continue to stay with her parents as his marriage was just a “nikah gantung” (suspended marriage). -FMT