KUCHING: The State government will come out with a new bill on marriageable age after compiling resolutions from statewide cultural symposiums on the matter.
According to Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah the statewide cultural symposiums have concluded and they are in the process of collecting all the resolutions.
She added that most participants of the symposium were known to support the minimum marriageable age of 18 years.
“But if there is any indiscretion which caused pregnancy and if they are also under the age of 18, there is a procedure that they have to abide with either from the native customs or Islamic laws,” Fatimah said when met by reporters after attending the handing over of the Sarawak flag to the Para Sukma 2018 contingent at the State Youth and Sports Complex, Jalan Keratapi here, yesterday.
Fatimah also said that her ministry would seek the State Attorney General’s (SAG) advice on the matter.
“The drafting of the Bill is also another area that we need to look into and we have requested for the SAG’s assistance,” she said.
When asked when the Bill will be presented at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), Fatimah said that it would probably be ready for the DUN sitting next year.
