الأخبار

By Iylia Marsya Iskandar

GOMBAK, 6 December 2018: The debate series “Re:Action Youth Engaged” continues with the debate on the motion “The Minimum Age of Marriage in Malaysia Should Be Standardised to 18 Years-Old.”

On the side of the government, the debate featured a Penang State Assemblyman for Seberang Jaya, Dr. Afif Bahardin as well as Nur Syafiqah Mohd Paris. Meanwhile the opposition side featured JUHAM’s Director of Dewan Pemuda Pas Malaysia (DPPM), Wan Rohimi and Naufal Hanipa.

Held at the IIUM Cultural Centre (ICC) recently, the event was organised by IIUM World Debate and Oratory Centre (IWON) and the Rakan Muda Development Division, Ministry of Youth and Sports with Astro Awani as the official media partner.

In the pre-debate round, a total of 13,444 people have voted for the said motion via Twitter (@reactionyouth1). 62% of them believed that the minimum age of marriage in Malaysia should be standardised to 18 years-old while 32% of them disagreed.

In his speech, Dr. Afif Bahardin highlighted that “social problems in Malaysia will not be solved by marriage but rather, it can be solved with having an education.”

Meanwhile, Wan Rohimi stood by his stance which is not to standardise the age of marriage but to create and implement a clearer standard operating procedure (SOP) with regards to marriage as the power of giving approval for marriage is in the hands of sharia court.

The debate concluded with another voting session by the audiences to determine the winner of this debate. The government side with 65% won the debate as they were able to convince the audience on the motion.