The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has set up a special body to look into issues concerning underage marriage in the country.

Its minister, Rohani Karim, said the special body under the Coordinating Council for the Protection of Children was entrusted to study the possibility to compel health and social reports to be prepared before applications for underage marriage could be approved.

"These two reports can help judges of Syariah Courts (for cases involving Muslims) and Native Courts (for cases involving non-Muslims) in their judgments," she told a press conference in Sebuyau, Sarawak today.

Rohani said the ministry viewed seriously cases of underage marriage in the country as there were too many negative impacts from such marriages than the positive ones.

"Those under the age of 18 must be given appropriate protection and justice as they can easily be exploited," she added.

- Bernama