De facto religious affairs minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa is optimistic about convincing the seven states which have refused to ban child marriage to one day raising the minimum age for marriage at 18.

Mujahid said there is hope considering the seven states, which refused to raise the minimum age for marriage, have agreed to tighten their standard operating procedures (SOP) concerning permission to allow such marriages to take place.

These states include Sarawak, Pahang, Terengganu, Perlis, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, and Kelantan.

He was responding to a question on what can the ministry do to convince these states to ban child marriage.

“There are two issues. One on setting the minimum age from 16 to 18. Those states didn’t agree to do so.

“But the good thing is, they have agreed to tighten the SOP. Although some of the states did not set a minimum age (to 18), but they agreed to tighten the law.

“That means there is hope to convince them that it is better to set the minimum age (for marriage) in the law,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

Asked on whether the federal government has set a timeframe for these states to amend the SOP, Mujahid said there is no timeframe but the efforts, involving various ministries, are ongoing.

“There is no timeframe. The negotiation is ongoing and it involved various ministries,” he said.

On Nov 19, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail told Parliament that those states had turned down the federal government’s proposal to amend their state enactments to ban child marriages for Muslims or natives.

She explained that the minimum age for marriage for Muslims and natives is governed by the Islamic enactments and native customary laws ordinance - both of which fall under the jurisdiction of the states, according to the Federal Constitution.

She had announced that her ministry is in its final stage of drafting the national strategic plan to combat child marriages in Malaysia, which involves amendments to the Islamic Family Law Act 1984 (Act 303).

However, given the state schedule in the Federal Constitution, the states have the right to reject this amendment in their jurisdictions.