Pengerang MP Azalina Othman hopes the Pakatan Harapan government will be more "creative" in handling the child marriage issue.

This is because, according to the former law minister, there are provisions under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which can be used for the purpose.

"According to the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, the accused can be made to face charges. The child is only 11 years old.

"According to civil laws, the matter can be reported to the police under certain sections and (if found guilty, the suspect) can be jailed for between three to five years," she told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

According to her, the parents of the child who allowed her to be married can also have action taken against them under the same act.

Hence the government would be wise to use existing provisions in the law to handle the matter, she said.

She was commenting on the recent widely-reported case in Gua Musang, Kelantan where a 41-year-old man took on an 11-year-old girl as his wife.

Currently, for Muslims, the law allows a girl aged 16 and a boy aged 18 to get married provided approval is given by the Syariah court.

For non-Muslims, the couple should seek for a special permission from the chief minister or a menteri besar of the state they reside in.

'Do not shutter child sexual crimes court'

Meanwhile, Azalina also commented on rumours that the child sexual crimes court will be shut down by the Harapan government. 

"I don't know (whether the rumours) are true or not, but if it is closed, then it is unfair. Children need a special court, special judges.

"I would like to plead to the government, do not succumb to emotions. If something is good, it should be continued," she said. 

Azalina also, while debating the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's address in Dewan Rakyat, challenged the government to push through amendments to Section 88A of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act (LRA) that deals with the unilateral conversion of minors.

"Last time, they (Harapan) was so interested about the issue, it was a big deal for them. 

"Now is the time they commit to it because now they have the power," she said. 

The proposed Section 88A(1) states that "Where a party to a marriage has converted to Islam, the religion of any child of the marriage shall remain as the religion of the parties to the marriage prior to the conversion, except where both parties to the marriage agree to a conversion of the child to Islam, subject always to the wishes of the child where he or she has attained the age of eighteen years."