SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government will table a bill to amend the marriage age for Muslim women during the state legislative assembly sitting which will commence next month.
Selangor Speaker Ng Suee Lim said it would be done during the sitting of the 14th state legislative assembly which is scheduled to be officiated on Sept 3. The sitting will begin the next day and expected to end on Sept 7.
“We will table the bill to make amendments to the Islamic Family Law (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003. This is involving the minimum age for marriage for Muslim women in Selangor. The amendment is to adjust the minimum age limit for Muslim women from 16 to 18.
“The bill will be opened for discussions among members of the house and we hope it will be passed. This is in line with Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) ruling to amend the age limit for Muslim women from 16 to 18 that was decided recently,” Ng told the New Straits Times Press today.
MAIS, had in a statement last month, said it held an indepth discussion with several parties on the matter following a decree by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
MAIS had called for a meeting with the Selangor Syariah Judiciary Department (Jakess), the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) as well as other stakeholders such as non-governmental organisations, health experts and academicians.
MAIS said a consensus was reached by all parties that a request for an amendment to the Islamic Family Law (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003 to increase the age from 16 to 18 for girls to be made.
On a separate matter, Ng said the newly minted Sungai Kandis assemblyman Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni will take his oath of office during the sitting.
The Seri Setia and Balakong assemblymen will be sworn in the following sitting expected to be held in November where the state government will unveil its budget for next year.