Underage marriages: Are we back in the Middle Ages?

 

 

 The Prime Minister wants a united Malaysia, but each section of our community has its own interpretation of “1Malaysia”. In Malacca, the “1Malaysia” concept of ‘disunity’ goes full circle: Our children are open to abuse, with the full consent of the law.  

Battle lines were once drawn between the ‘Haves’ and ‘Have-Nots’. Now, the demarcation includes race, religion and culture with die-hard Malays like the DPM and Perkasa, championing Malay rights first.

Federal law states that no woman will be whipped, but recently, three Muslim women were caned for having illicit sex. It appears that “1Malaysia” fails women.

The decision by the Malacca government to allow male students below 18 and female students below 16 to marry, shocked everyone. Under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act, marriage is allowed only for people 18 years and above. It appears that “1Malaysia” does not protect children.

Malacca Chief Minister, Ali Rustam, said that marriages for Muslims below the current minimum age of 16 years for females and 18 for males would be allowed with the permission of parents and religious courts.

Why should normal, responsible parents allow the state to make decisions over their child?

Ali Rustam’s plan was to prevent premarital sex, reduce babies born out of wedlock and cut incidents of adultery. He said, “It is a practical move in preventing cases of unwed teenage mothers and other social problems”.

Ali Rustam and the Malacca Religious Council are both irresponsible and obtuse. Do they honestly believe under-age marriages will stop unwed teenage mothers, prevent social problems and adultery?

This directive appears to condone sex in Muslim teenagers. Should things go wrong and the girl gets pregnant, the couple is given an “opt-out’ clause by the state: They get married; No one is jailed; The girl escapes a whipping. The wedding takes place for all the wrong reasons.

Lowering the age of consent is not going to resolve teenage pregnancies. All that happens is illegitimate children won’t be born – the state ensures the baby’s parents go through the formality of marriage, whether or not they are responsible, ready for it or can afford it.

Will these teenagers make good parents? Some will, but the majority won’t. They are children burdened by bringing up a family. Is that fair?

More social problems will result. What will Ali Rustam do when there is an upsurge of very young teenage mothers or girls as young as 10, 11 or 12 having sex?

These married girls have to forego school and deny themselves an education. Without proper qualifications and skills, they cannot contribute towards the family and nation. Is the Chief Minister prepared for an uneducated underclass which is possibly poverty stricken?

The Malacca ruling means that the girl who marries young is subject to emotional, physical and financial hardship. She has to stop interacting with other children of her own age, to care for her children. Her personal development, growth and freedom are curtailed.

Has Ali Rustam considered that these children are also at risk from sham marriages with paedophiles?

What will Ali Rustam do when the husband tires of these girls and source even younger wives, as polygamy is their right? The likelihood of the husband providing equally for each of his growing family, in terms of money, attention and material goods, is slim.

It is possible that Ali Rustam is not aware that girls, once married, risk contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and HIV/AIDS from husbands who also have sex outside of the marital home.  Forcing teenagers to marry does not cure infidelity.

Is he conscious that many girls suffer abuse when they refuse sex? Does he know that many of these young girls may have several children by their early twenties and so, risk their health and suffer pregnancy related mortality?

The state of Malacca also announced a special school for Muslim girls who become pregnant out of wedlock.

Girls elsewhere enjoy the benefits of an advanced education, high living standard and economic and financial freedom. But it appears, not in Malacca.