THE Malaysian government will take custody of an 11-year-old Thai girl if it is found that her marriage with a 41-year-old rubber tapper does not legally exist.

Women, Family and Community Development Ministry political secretary Rodziah Ismail said this would be done regardless of the child’s nationality.

“If the marriage is proven to be non-existent, the government has a duty to take custody of the child.

“It does not matter whether she is a citizen of Malaysia or not,” she told reporters after paying a courtesy call on Penang Women’s exco Chong Eng at Komtar, today.

Rodziah said there has yet to be documented proof to show that the man from Gua Musang, Kelantan, had indeed married the child in southern Thailand. 

Malaysian authorities, she said, were still investigating and looking for proof at home and in Thailand.

She also said the man would face punishment if the marriage was non-existent, but did not elaborate.

“We will also look at the family and the village where they live. We have to find out why this happened…If it is poverty that caused such issues.”

The controversy came to light after the man’s second wife posted about the marriage on social media. The woman also lodged a police report. Another report was lodged by a non-governmental organisation.

News of the alleged child bride caused a huge outcry. Despite public condemnation, the man is reported to have said he would not give up the girl.

He said he had married her lawfully in Sungai Golok, southern Thai, on June 18; and with her parents’ consent.

He said he and his child bride underwent “nikah gantung”, a valid Muslim engagement that allowed the couple to be seen in public and recognised as husband and wife, but not to engage in sexual activity. – July 3, 2018.