KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 — Muslim families should consider reducing the quantum of dowry and wedding gifts, or “hantaran”, in order to facilitate marriages between couples, Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) said today.
In its Friday sermon, the religious agency suggested that the difficulty in getting married may have contributed towards the cases of rape, adultery and baby dumping.
“Although we are aware that today’s cost of living is increasing, it should not be a reason to make it hard for Muslims to get married by raising the value of dowry and gifts for the bride,” it said in the sermon distributed to mosques in the territories.
“It would be wonderful if families of both the bride and groom can discuss and agree to reduce the amount of dowry and gifts in order to allow the couple to start their married life in peace and tranquillity,” it added later in a list of suggestions to curb the problem.
“Avoid being in debt from the very first day of married life and work together to manage your finances well.”
In Malay-Muslim culture, the groom provides two types of payments: with the mandatory mahr or “mas kahwin” kept by the bride and the amount set by state religious authorities.
Meanwhile, the “hantaran” agreed upon by both families consists of gifts exchanged between the couple, and usually an amount of cash that can either be kept by the bride or used by her family to pay for the matrimonial ceremony.
Jawi also warned that young Muslims nowadays have greater lust and desire since they have easier access to “indecent materials”.
“Today, with the internet, anyone can watch illicit photos and videos wherever they are. Through this, the door leading to adultery and immorality will be numerous,” it claimed.
“Rape and the number of children born out of wedlock are likely to rise, followed by baby dumping and other harmful acts. Why is this problem becoming more severe? Is it because marriage is made more difficult? Or, is it because we really do not know how to orientate and act accordingly?”
Several Muslim leaders, including PAS MPs Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali and Datuk Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad have previously mooted child marriage as a solution to premarital sex and statutory rape.
In Malaysia, the legal minimum age for marriage under civil law for both genders is 18, with marriages involving those under this age requiring consent from the state mentri besar or chief minister.
Shariah laws here place the legal marrying age for Muslim boys and girls at 18 and 16, with girls aged below 16 being allowed to be married off with the consent of the Shariah court.
