Kedah raises legal age of marriage for girls to 18

The Kedah state assembly yesterday passed the Islamic Family Law (Kedah Darul Aman) (Amendment) Enactment Bill 2022 on the age limit for marriage and laws governing polygamy.

Kedah state assembly speaker Juhari Bulat said the amendment to the enactment was to raise the marriageable age for women from 16 to 18, as well as the punishment for polygamy without court permission to one year in jail or a RM3,000 fine, compared to six months in jail or a fine of RM1,000 previously.

"If you still want to get married due to problems, you can apply through the court. If the court finds that the candidate should be allowed (to get married) even if she is 16 years old, she can with the court's permission. If it’s without the court's permission, there will be a fine," he told reporters after the state assembly sitting at Wisma Darul Aman in Alor Setar.

Meanwhile, Juhari said he had rejected the urgent motion on the issue of floods and the water surge phenomenon in Baling and Yan by Pengkalan Kundor assemblyman Ismail Salleh due to non-compliance with assembly rules.

He said the notice on the motion was given only the day before, which did not conform with the 14-day rule for normal private motions, or the rule for urgent and important motions requiring a seven-day notice or at least one day prior with the permission of the Kedah menteri besar.

Meanwhile, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said if the opposition felt the motion needed to be discussed in the assembly immediately, they could come to meet him over the matter.

"It is clear that the motion is to be brought to the assembly at least within 14 working days or brought by the menteri besar (for notice within) seven days or at least a day... they did not contact me... if they (opposition) are sincere, please (send a) WhatsApp (message to) me or write a letter," he said.

He also urged the opposition not to politicise issues in Baling to the point of forcing him to reveal the individual responsible for approving the Musang King farm project in Gunung Inas.

"I got the report from the forestry department, I already have the chronology and know who signed the letter to approve this project. 

"Don't force me to reveal all that, I don't want a blame game. I want to be fair to everyone. We don't want to find fault with anyone right now, what’s important is the solution," he said.

The state assembly has been adjourned sine die.