Selangor's Islamic bodies are proposing to raise the marriageable age to 18 for Muslims, while imposing stricter requirements for those seeking permission to marry minors.
In a statement today, the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) outlined five proposed mandatory requirements that must be met before an underage marriage can be approved.
These are for judges to compel the child to attend special family courses, attend counselling sessions with the Social Welfare Department, and to undergo a medical examination.
The judge is also required to investigate the potential husband's economic standing and past criminal record, if any.
Finally, the judge must also summon and take statements from both sides' parents before an underage marriage request can be considered.
Mais said there are also several procedural matters that will be improved on to protect the interests of those who want to marry under the age of 18.
The council hoped the proposals will be reflected in amendments to Selangor's Islamic Family Law Enactment and will be brought to the state assembly soon.
The proposals were crafted following discussions between Mais, the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais), and the Selangor Syariah Court Department, prompted by decrees from state ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on July 19 and 20.
"It is Mais' wish that these amendments ensure that the importance of the child's future becomes the main focus for (syariah) judges to consider in making any decision regarding underage marriage," it said.
The discussions followed the marriage of a 41-year-old man to an 11-year-old girl in Kelantan.
The case sparked a national debate on underage marriages, with Putrajaya pushing to raise the marriageable age 18 with the aim of banning child marriages entirely in the future. - Mkini
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