THERE are no plans by the government to ban underage marriage, says the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

       However, the government is committed to curbing underage marriage by implementing programmes under the National Strategic Plan for Addressing the Causes of Underage Marriage.

       Underage marriage must not only be tackled through legislative change but also through education, advocacy, health, strengthening of family institutions and socio-economic support, said the ministry.

       “At the same time, the steering committee established will continue to monitor implementation and development of the designed programmes,” it said in a written parliamentary reply.

       This was in response to a question by Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH-Permatang Pauh) who asked the minister to state the current status of the plan to ban underage marriages in curbing child exploitation.

       Nurul Izzah also wanted to know when the ministry would hold a discussion with the state Islamic religious authorities as the setting of the legal age is under their purview.

       To this, the ministry said the proposal to hold a discussion session would be refined through advocacy collaboration with the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the Syariah Judiciary Department.

       “All stakeholders at the federal and state levels should jointly support the government’s efforts in addressing underage marriage to secure the future of the children,” the ministry said.