Marriage age amendment, stakeholders’ views crucial — Minister

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Liew looking at the new Kota Kinabalu Court Complex plan. — Bernama photo

KOTA KINABALU: The government will take into consideration the views of all stakeholders in the discussions to raise the marriage age limit in the country from 16 to 18 years before any decision is made, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk V K Liew.

He said the views of all relevant parties were important to see the implications that would exist if the law was to be implemented.

Liew said this included taking into account the views of stakeholders in Sabah and Sarawak as both states allowed marriages under the age of 16 years with parental permission based on the traditional marriages practised by various races and religions in the state.

“Considerations from the legal aspects of Islam are also taken into account in this discussion,” he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of the new Kota Kinabalu Court Complex project here yesterday.

Also present were Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk David Wong Dak Wah, Public Works Department director-general Datuk Seri Ir Dr Roslan Md Taha and Legal Affairs Division director-general Datuk Jalil Marzuki.

Liew said discussions to amend the age group of marriages were aimed at safeguarding and preserving the interests of children as well as ensuring that no party exploited such groups for certain purposes.

He said a summary would be made after the discussions were completed before the law was implemented.

On the list of members of the Special Committee to review the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, Liew said the list was submitted to the Cabinet for approval and he would announce the name of the committee member within 100 days of the new government. — Bernama