Wanita Amanah has called for an end to underage marriages performed as a purported solution for "loose morals" or a ticket out of poverty.

In her speech at Wanita Amanah's second-annual convention, wing's chief Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said this was because underaged girls risk lacking skills needed to raise a family and secure their own independence.

"We no longer want underaged marriages only on grounds of poverty or loose morals.

"If this happens, it will trigger a vicious cycle of creating a family whose marriage is legal under the law but haunted by a chain of other problems - uneducated children, social ills and ongoing victimisation which in the end will be a burden to society," she cautioned.

At the very least, the Kota Raja MP said all girls should be encouraged to complete a minimum high school education and get a job before getting married.

"Don't be too quick to get married without any preparations. We no longer live in a time where the majority of men are responsible and trustworthy in heading a family.

"In short, the Awan (Wanita Amanah) leadership agree that the minimum age for Muslim girls should be increased to 18-years-old instead of 16, to be at par with the minimum age for girls from other races in the country," she said.

At the same time, Siti Mariah was quick to add that the wing is not calling for a blanket ban on underage marriages, but rather urging the Syariah Courts to be more vigilant in approving such applications.

"The Syariah Courts should play a bigger and more proactive role to not only approve such applications but impose conditions on the parents and future husband that would protect the girl's interest until she reaches the age of 18," she explained.

Despite conceding that Islam does not set a minimum age for marriage, she also reminded the 210 delegates from 12 states and 27 divisions that a government can do so to protect the overall welfare of women.

PAS Dewan Ulama chief Khairuddin Aman Razali had in the past reportedly said that marriage is the "best way" to resolve the issue of sex with minors.

'Condemns vice but defend human rights'

In carrying out their duties, Siti Mariah said Wanita Amanah will not compromise their stand on vices, but at the same time continue to defend basic human rights allowed under Islam, for example, the right to work, freedom of expression and others.

"We will not support calls to allow same-sex marriage. But if anyone of them (in the same sex relationship) is being denied the right to work or others, we will defend them," she said.

Also present during the day's convention held at The Mines 2 in Seri Kembangan was Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, Amanah secretary-general Anuar Tahir, representatives from DAP and PKR, as well as Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah.