THE government will look at both traditional and legal standpoints in talks to raise the minimum marriage age for girls from 16 to 18, say law minister Liew Vui Keong today.

He noted child marriages are included in traditional practices of some cultures in Sabah and Sarawak and that the formulation of a new law on marriage must take them into account.

“I have been in constant talks with Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and all the relevant stakeholders on raising the minimum age (for marriage).

“At the moment the discussion remains open, we need to look into the various implications that may arise from child marriages in the country,” he told reporters after opening the new Kota Kinabalu court complex.

Liew’s statement came after a 41-year-old man in Gua Musang, Kelantan, married an 11-year-old girl as his third wife in Thailand on June 18.

Girls younger than 16 are allowed to marry provided they have obtained the consent of their parents and the chief minister or menteri besar of their respective states.

Liew said whatever new law that is formulated must put the interest of the child first and the government will plug any loopholes that can potentially be exploited by paedophiles.

Asked about the religious authorities’ stand on the matter, Liew said they are on the same page with the government.

“We are already talking, and once this is done, we will be looking into the law to resolve the situation,” he said.

On another development, Liew said the individuals who will sit on the special federal committee on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 have been identified.

“Their names have already been given to me and I will make the announcement during the 100th day of the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

“So we have roughly about two weeks to make the announcement,” he said.

Speaking on the new Kota Kinabalu court complex, Liew said the new facility will be fully utilised by next month.

The court complex, which took about 45 months to complete, was built at a cost of RM147 million, around RM1.1 million below the contract value.

Liew said, meanwhile, there are plans to use the old court building for city court, night court or the weekend court.

“As I was informed by the judiciary body, they intend to resuscitate some of the court’s old programmes like the weekend court,” he said. – August 9, 2018.