The Sun
by Shalini Maheswaran
by Shalini Maheswaran
PETALING JAYA (Dec 13, 2010): The Syariah Court should tread carefully when deciding on cases pertaining to child marriages, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said today.
She hoped the welfare of the child will be paramount before the courts approve applications for such marriages.
"The Syariah Court has the power to grant permission to applicants. However, we request the court to examine the circumstances before approving any application," she told reporters after delivering her keynote address at the International Conference on the Family Institution in the 21st Century here.
"The syariah family law states that any Muslim under the age of 16 needs the consent of the Syariah Court in order to marry. (But) we also have to think of the future implication of child marriages, especially after the couple have children ... it is like a child parenting another child."
She hoped the welfare of the child will be paramount before the courts approve applications for such marriages.
"The Syariah Court has the power to grant permission to applicants. However, we request the court to examine the circumstances before approving any application," she told reporters after delivering her keynote address at the International Conference on the Family Institution in the 21st Century here.
"The syariah family law states that any Muslim under the age of 16 needs the consent of the Syariah Court in order to marry. (But) we also have to think of the future implication of child marriages, especially after the couple have children ... it is like a child parenting another child."
Her comments came in the wake of the recent marriage of 14-year-old Siti Maryam Mahmod to teacher Abdul Manan Othman, 23. There has been pressure from various groups on the government to look into allowing child marriages.
Shahrizat also said her ministry will conduct research to determine the need to increase maternity leave.
"We are looking into the possibility of increasing maternity leave and have sent a letter to the Human Resource Ministry asking to extend the leave to 90 days for private sector employees," she said.
Currently, female workers in the private sector are entitled to 60 days maternity leave. The move to increase maternity leave faced objections from several quarters like the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF), which cited higher costs as a reason.
On Friday, the ministry will submit a memorandum on the National Family Policy for cabinet approval.
Shahrizat also said her ministry will conduct research to determine the need to increase maternity leave.
"We are looking into the possibility of increasing maternity leave and have sent a letter to the Human Resource Ministry asking to extend the leave to 90 days for private sector employees," she said.
Currently, female workers in the private sector are entitled to 60 days maternity leave. The move to increase maternity leave faced objections from several quarters like the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF), which cited higher costs as a reason.
On Friday, the ministry will submit a memorandum on the National Family Policy for cabinet approval.
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