Photo: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of people in underage marriages in Malaysia decreased to 1,086 in 2021 from 1,354 in 2020, says Datuk Seri Nancy Syukri (pic).
The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said 2020 statistics showed 1,233 bumiputra, 63 Chinese, 12 Indians and 46 from other ethnic groups were in underage marriages.
“In 2021, there were 1,001 bumiputra, 36 Chinese, four Indians and 45 from other races," she said in a Parliamentary written reply to Young Shefura Othman (PH-Bentong) on Wednesday (May 24).
“Of that number, 962 are Muslims and 124 are non-Muslims,” she added.
Young Shefura had asked the ministry to state the statistics on underage marriages since 2020 together with a breakdown by race and religion.
She also asked the government about its initiatives to address underage marriage.
Nancy said that through her ministry, several programmes and action plans have been developed based on the National Strategic Plan in Handling the Causes of Child Marriage for 2020 until 2025.
“Through the plan, the government has taken various approaches that include legislation, education, awareness campaigns on sexual and reproductive health, strengthening the family institution, as well as collecting data and socioeconomic support systems,” she said.
