Kota Kinabalu: Early marriages among teenagers in Sabah are raising serious concerns about long-term consequences to family stability, youth development and public health.
Speaking at the session, themed “Early Marriage Trends in Sabah – Its Impact on Marriage Institutions”, at the Federal Government Administrative Complex (KPKPS), recently, panelists from academia, public health and research institutions called for more comprehensive data, cross-sectoral policies and education reforms to address the issue.
Chief Editor of the Asia Journal Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Aminuddin Ibrahim Lastar, said the rise in teenage marriage should not be seen in isolation but rather as a social response to long-standing economic and cultural challenges.
“In certain communities, there’s a strong perception that marrying off teenagers can ease the family’s economic burden or prevent further social complications,” he said.
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