KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is in the midst of amending the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) 1984 (Act 303) to increase the marriageable among Muslims age to 18 years old.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the department was also coordinating with other states on a similar change involving their respective Islamic Family Law.
However, she said seven states had disagreed to the federal government’s proposal to increase the minimum marriageable age to 18.
Dr Wan Azizah who is also the Woman, Family and Community Development Minister revealed that the states which rejected the change are Sarawak, Pahang, Terengganu, Perlis, Negri Sembilan, Kedah and Kelantan.
“We are taking action on the legal aspect, some states are amending the laws, some are agreeable and some are disagreeable.
“We are also developing strategies and plans to address the root causes of child marriage holistically that involves government and non-governmental agencies,” she said, here, today.
Last October, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad issued a directive ordering all state governments to raise the legal minimum marriage age to 18 years for both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Thus far, Selangor, Sabah and Penang had agreed to increase the minimum marriage age from 16 to 18.
Dr Wan Azizah said an application for minors under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (Act 164) had also been tightened.
This, she said by adopting a standard operating procedure that takes into account the social and health aspects of the applicant.
On Tuesday, Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, had raised the minimum age at which women can marry to 19, in a ruling which is expected to curb child marriage in the Asean country.
Following the move, numerous Malaysian non-governmental organisations had urged the government to follow the republic’s footstep.
On a separate matter, the deputy prime minister said foreigners who buy unsold luxury homes through the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program would not be entitled to Malaysian citizenship.
She said the potential buyers would instead be offered a 10-year visa, with conditions attached.
“They will not be granted a MyKad or a Permanent Resident (PR) status document, just a visa for 10 years. This will be discussed at the cabinet level.
"However, the foreigners must sufficiently have liquid assets and are able to contribute to the country," she added.
Dr Wan Azizah also clarified that the campaign was open to all foreign nationals and was not limited to China and Hong Kong citizens only.
It was reported that Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin had proposed to promote RM100 billion worth of unsold high-end houses to buyers in China and Hong Kong.
Dr Wan Azizah was speaking to reporters after visiting Nour Shafinar Harun, widow of the late Major Mohd Zahir Armaya at her quarters in Wardieburn camp.
Zahir, 36, a commando of the 11th Special Forces Regiment, died after being shot during a demonstration in conjunction with the launch of the 5th Infantry Division and the 13th Infantry Brigade.
Dr Wan Azizah also handed over a RM5,000 contribution to Nour Shafinar.
Present was Army chief General Tan Sri Ahmad Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi and 21st Special Service Group commander Major General Datuk Hasan Ali.