Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) chairman Mohammed Khusrin Munawi said the plan was made after child marriages were reported to have become rampant of late, including the marriage between an 11-year-old Thai girl with a 41-year-old local man in southern Thailand which sparked widespread outcry recently.

He said Mais, with cooperation from the state’s Shariah Judiciary Department and Islamic Religious Department (Jais) had held an in-depth discussion with experts from various departments and government agencies, especially medical experts, academicians and non-governmental organisations, on July 19 and 20 to find a solution to the problem.

“As a result, a consensus was reached to propose an amendment to the Islamic Family Law (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003, specifically to increase the minimum age for marriage for Muslim women in the state from 16 to 18.

“With this amendment, the minimum age limit for marriage for Muslim men and women in Selangor will be adjusted to 18,” he said in a statement here today.

He said the proposal on the matter would be prepared and tabled to the State Legislative Assembly as soon as possible.