Annual Number of Marriages that Involve Parties under 18 Years of Age

Ms Carrie Tan asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) in the past five years, what is the annual number of marriages that involved parties under 18 years of age; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider disallowing such marriages under the Women's Charter 1961.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Under the Women's Charter, marriages between persons either of whom is below 18 years of age are void. The only exception to this provision is where the marriage is authorised by a Special Marriage Licence issued by the Minister.

Such marriages, authorised by Special Marriage Licence, have been falling over the years. In the last two years, there were no such marriages.

While the Ministry of Social and Family Development has no plans at present to remove the option of a Special Marriage Licence, we will continue to closely scrutinise any application and ensure that approval is given only in meritorious cases.