Way too many Malaysians are getting married too early in life, compromising their health and chances of development in a productive labour force.
United Nations Malaysian resident coordinator Michelle Gyles-McDonnough mentioned that the marriages usually involve young people below the age of 18.
In 2010, 80,000 married women in the country were between 15 and 19 years of age, while the corresponding amount of young married men was 70,000.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State of the World Population 2014 report highlighted that there were 1.8 billion young people aged between 10 and 24 worldwide, most of whom were from developing countries.
It also noted that child marriages were some of the few challenges the countries, including Malaysia, had to handle if they were to drive socio-economic growth.
Gyles-McDonnough added that couples who marry too young are relegated to a life of dependency as they are not equipped to be a part of a productive labour force within a high-income nation.
Child marriage also sometimes result in early pregnancy, which is linked to deaths from many complications, she said.
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