Citing data from the statistics department, Nancy said it has shown a 37% decrease in child marriages from 2019 to 2023.
In a written parliamentary reply, she said there were 1,467 child marriages recorded in 2019, 1,354 in 2020, 1,086 in 2021, 1,035 in 2022, and 923 in 2023.
“This is a significant downward trend,” she said.
Nancy said her ministry is committed to addressing the root causes of child marriages through the implementation of programmes and actions under the National Strategic Plan to Address the Causes of Child Marriage.
The plan includes programmes to create awareness of sexual and reproductive health, programmes to strengthen family institutions, and socio-economic support systems.
It also includes programmes aimed at increasing awareness and changing the stigma and social norms of society towards child marriage, which she said should be addressed at the grassroots level.
Noting that Malaysia is a multiethnic society with different customs, cultures and religions, Nancy said it was important to note that the federal government, state governments, and customary laws all have jurisdiction over child marriage in Malaysia.
She said her ministry will always support proposals to tighten the procedures for child marriages to protect children.
She was responding to a question from Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Kuala Langat) about statistics on child marriages over the last five years and whether the government plans to review the minimum marriage age.
Last November, Sisters in Islam called on the government to take decisive action against child marriages or risk failing in its commitments to children and international human rights standards.
The women’s rights group urged the government to standardise the marriage age at 18 across all states and for all Malaysians.
SIS said there is a critical inconsistency in the country’s current legal system which sets the minimum age of marriage for non-Muslims at 18, Muslim men at 18 and Muslim women at 16.
Further allowances are given for those younger than 16 if the marriage is approved by a chief minister or a shariah judge.
Currently, only Selangor and Kedah have raised the minimum marriage age to 18.