LETTER | Sometimes when we are incapable of agreeing or thinking straight, we like to provide excuses.

I am referring to PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man who wants Malaysians to put their attention on the exploitation of children in general instead of focusing on child marriage alone.

When we say child marriages are not an issue but it is the “exploitation of children”, what exactly do we have in mind?

Put it the other way round, if we are concerned with the exploitation of children, why are we not concerned with child marriages? Are we saying the moment children enter into a marriage, they would instantaneously become mature and capable of deciding for themselves?

I suspect those supporting child marriages are not really concerned with the exploitation of children. They just want to do it in the “legal way”. Marriages somehow fraudulently “sanctify” all the evil desire, exploitation, lust and whatever we may harbour on children.

I detest the idea that when we discuss child marriages, it is an infringement into the religious beliefs of others. Child marriages are a universal problem, no one has more right than others to either encourage or prevent it. We shall all discuss rationally and logically.

It is true there are exploitation, unequal relationship and divorce even in marriages among adults as alluded to by Tuan Ibrahim. Should we then use this excuse to justify that it is okay to allow child marriages? Is this not a spurious argument to rationalise our own preferences under false pretence?

Problems in marriages between two adults must be looked at very differently from marriages between an adult and a child. A child does not stand a chance to decide her love and affection, her body, welfare and destiny. It is inherently exploitative to the core.

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