The recent marriage involving an 11-year-old girl and a 41-year-old Kelantanese is illegal, says Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who also heads the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

She said laws throughout Malaysia state that a girl must be at least 16 to be married and that the marriage did not receive the consent of the Syariah Court.

“The marriage is not legal and they must be separated,” she told reporters in Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur today, according to Bernama.

The man was reported to have taken the 11-year-old girl, believed to be a Thai national, as his bride. 

Investigations by the Kelantan Welfare Department had suggested that the wedding took place in Thailand.

Wan Azizah said her ministry’s attempts to locate the groom have thus far been unsuccessful. She also opined that the legal age to marry should be increased from 16 to 18.