Uproar over RM1,800 fine for marrying 11-year-old

Looi Sue-Chern Looi Sue-Chern Updated 5 years ago · Published on 10 Jul 2018 8:00AM · 9 Comments

The wooden house where an 11-year-old lived with her family in Gua Musang, Kelantan. The husband of the child bride was fined RM1,800 yesterday. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 10, 2018.

SOCIAL-MEDIA users are in an uproar over the RM1,800 fine slapped on a 41-year-old rubber tapper who married an 11-year-old Thai girl in Kelantan.

The reaction to the fine meted out by a Kelantan shariah court was “is that it?”, “that’s all?” and “are you kidding me?”

“What? Just RM1,800? What a joke,” Hardave Singh Dave said on Facebook.

One Twitter user, who uses the handle @nalisaaa, criticised the fine, using the profile name “Haramkan nikah bawah umur” (ban underage marriage).

She said RM1,800 does not even cover the rent for a decent two-bedroom apartment in Kuala Lumpur, adding that even an iPhone 6s cost more.

“Can’t even cover the household income for a family of three in KL. And this is the amount the Gua Musang shariah court fined? 

“Wow. Just say you hate the female gender and go,” she tweeted.

The man from Gua Musang reportedly married the girl in southern Thailand and news of it broke last month after his second wife lodged a police report.

He was charged yesterday under Section 19 and Section 24 of the Kelantan Islamic Family Enactment 2002, which carries a maximum RM1,000 fine or two months’ jail.

Section 19 states that no marriage can be solemnised without permission from the registrar or a shariah judge, while Section 124 prohibits polygamy without the court’s permission.

After he pleaded guilty to both charges, Gua Musang shariah judge Mohd Surbaineey Hussain fined him RM900 for each offence.

Many thought the government had not done enough in the case that has caused a huge outcry across the country.

“That’s it??! And the child still has not been saved?” prominent activist Marina Mahathir (@netraKL) tweeted.

“Definitely not enough is being done for the girl!” Joan Poh (@joan_poh) tweeted.

Another Twitter user Crystal (@eveslist_co) called it “horrible”, adding that it was as if the fine implied that a child bride only cost RM1,800.

Some thought the country under a new government now should be doing better than this.

Civil liberties lawyer Michelle Yesudas (@chelle_yesudas) said Malaysia could do better.

“You can definitely do better than today’s headlines ‘Child bride’s husband fined RM1,800’,” she tweeted.

On Facebook, award-winning Malaysian transgender rights activist Nisha Ayub said it was “pathetic”.

“In our New Malaysia, you are judged, targeted and discriminated just because you have a different gender identity and sexuality; to the extend being denied to employment.

“But you are seen as saviour when you get married to an underage girl (pedophiles).”

j_ong90 (@joycieong90s) called the fine sickening and also criticised the new federal government.

“Is this the so-called Malaysia Baru? Is the government just paying us lip services. Talk is cheap, can we see some execution? And I want to have a government with a conscience,” j_ong90 (@joycieong90s) tweeted.

Many also could not see how the meagre fine would serve as a deterrent.

“Pay RM1,800 & everything’s settled? He gets an underaged bride, society gets an excuse to let it happen again and everyone keeps pandering?” Syirah (@heckisthis) tweeted.

Herinza (@rinsyadza) said the authorities would just sweep it under the rug until another case resurfaced. – July 10, 2018.

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Comments

  • With such a small fine, it's a great encouragement for others to follow the footsteps committed by this clever man. In fact, he should follow up immediately to marry the 4th underage girl before the law prohibits hum & others to do so. Indeed a great laughing stalk IF our new Malaysia just let it go without pursuing with any further action.

    Posted 5 years ago by Ong Jimmy · Reply

  • Lots of people commented that federal government under PH is not doing enough but they failed to understand that the decision came from Gua Musang shariah court which is under PAS rule. V r firing our guns at the wrong target, educate the people in kelantan first. You cannot change law's overnight, parliament have to convene before changes r made to the current law's.

    Posted 5 years ago by Gill Singh · Reply

    • So one can commit statutory rape in Kelantan and only needs to pay RM1,800??? So a Kelantan MP/Adun is able to have a child bride and still gets to KEEP his position (

      Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

    • ..... ( less than RM2,000), just saying ???

      Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Calling for all true Malaysians to stand united for demanding the ban to child marriages.

    Posted 5 years ago by Bennie Goh · Reply

  • Is PH govt condoning paedophile disguised using religion as an excuse to marry an underage girl?

    Posted 5 years ago by Peace Maker · Reply

  • Is that how Syariah Court treats paedophile? A shame on Islam.

    Posted 5 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

    • Sunan Abu-Dawud 2:2116, Bukhari (93:639)

      Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Even a pimp would not sell a virgin for RM1800. Kelantan a self proclaimed land of the all mighty God just shows how much a 11 year old girl life is worth.

    Posted 5 years ago by BENG PIN TEOH · Reply