KUALA LUMPUR: The abolishment of child marriages is up to the jurisdiction of the state governments, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The Women, Family and Community Development Minister stressed that while the Federal Government highly opposed child marriages, the government could not force states to follow their stance due to long-standing native laws in some states.
"We cannot impose on them, some of these native laws have existed for a long time.
"The most we can do is remind lawmakers in those states as often as possible to pursue them while also spreading awareness on the negative effects of child marriage through programmes across the country.
"The Cabinet has already instructed the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar to go state by state to listen to their opinions on the issue.
"He was also instructed to advise state leaders on the issue based on the interests of the Federal Government," she told reporters during a press conference after the International Women's Day celebrations at Dewan Perdana Felda, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (March 8).
