The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has urged all state governments to raise the minimum age for Muslim marriage to 18 in a bid to achieve a uniform standard across the country.
Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said she hopes more states will follow the lead of Selangor and Kedah, which have already amended their laws to increase the minimum marriage age.
“Two states have already made the amendments. We hope other states will take similar steps so the matter can be standardised and harmonised nationwide,” she said.
Nancy explained that while the federal government has held extensive discussions on the issue, the authority to determine the minimum age for Muslim marriage rests with individual state governments.
“We can voice our concerns and continue discussions with the states, but the final decision is not within the federal government’s power,” she said.
“It is up to the respective state governments to implement the change.”
She made the remarks after officiating the opening of the Tribunal for Anti-Sexual Harassment (TAGS) office and launching the e-TAGS system on Thursday.
Her comments come a day after the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) renewed its call for a nationwide minimum marriage age of 18 for Muslims.
Suhakam said the proposed reform is aimed at protecting children’s rights, health and access to education, while ensuring their overall well-being.
The commission also proposed retaining a judicial mechanism that would allow minors aged 16 and 17 to seek court approval to marry under exceptional circumstances.
Advocates of the reform argue that establishing a uniform minimum marriage age would strengthen child protection measures and reduce inconsistencies between states.
The issue has remained a topic of national discussion for several years, with child rights groups and policymakers continuing to push for legal reforms to better safeguard minors across the country.
