Other states should follow in Kedah's footsteps in raising legal marriage age - Dr M

SHAH ALAM - Other states should follow Kedah in raising the legal age of marriage for girls to 18, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The move, the former prime minister said was a good one.

"I think raising the age for marriage is good because marriage is not only about the fun.

"When you are 18 years old, at that time you have reached an age where you are ready to bear children.

"I believe that it is a god decision and other states should follow Kedah,” he said.

The Langkawi MP said this after Sinar Harian’s "Di Sebalik Isu Bersama FY” programme hosted by Finaz Yunus entitled "Mengapa Melayu Jual Tanah” (why the Malays sell their lands), on Friday night.

On July 18, the Kedah state assembly the Islamic Family Law (Kedah Darul Aman) (Amendment) Enactment Bill on the age limit for marriage and laws governing polygamy.

The amendment was to raise the marriageable age for women from 16 to 18.

It also increased the punishment for polygamy without the court’s permission to one year in jail or a RM3,000 fine, compared to six months in jail or a fine of RM1,000 previously.

State assembly speaker Juhari Bulat has stated that if one wanted to get married due to any problem could apply to the court and if court finds that the candidate should be allowed (to get married) even if she is 16 years old, she could with the court's permission.

However, he said without the court's permission, one could be fined.