Malaysia should ban child marriages for all, including Muslims who are now allowed to marry at any age with permission from the syariah court, DAP’s Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching urged.

Debating the Budget at Parliament yesterday, she also spoke against the provision for non-Muslims aged between 16 and 18 to marry with written consent from a chief minister.

Teo, who is also DAP Wanita secretary said the government should place a ban on all marriages for those under 18 as it has adopted a United Nations resolution on this.

“Not only our government has removed its reservation to Article 16(2) of Cedaw, we have also adopted a United Nations resolution to end child, early and forced marriage at the Human Rights Council in October last year,” she said.

“It is time for us to amend the laws to reflect the intent and enable the practical realisation of the promises.”

Cedaw refers to the United Nation's Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted in 1979.

According to the law, the minimum age for marriage is 18 for male Muslims and 16 for female Muslims.

However, Muslim children as young as 14, have married after receiving permission from a syariah court judge.

Meanwhile, the MP also called for legislation to prevent gender discrimination and urged for a select committee to look into this Bill.

"Gender inequality is a human issue and is above politics. In order to end persistent inequalities faced by women and girls in Malaysia, it is imperative to put men at the centre of activism and dialogue," she said.

Teo's urging comes as Malaysia slips to 107th out of 142 countries in terms of gender equality, according to the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) ranking.

This places Malaysia behind its Asean neighbours, including the Philippines (9th), Singapore (59) and Indonesia (97). Cambodia is at 108th.