Malaysian State's $124 Bonus for Teen Weddings Sparks Outrage

Perak, a state in Malaysia, is considering a proposal to pay first-time couples 500 ringgit (about $124) as a wedding gift. The money is meant to ease the financial burden on young newlyweds. But here's the problem: the plan would apply to couples as young as 15. That has triggered a strong backlash from rights groups and citizens who say it would effectively encourage child marriage.

Malaysia already has a complicated legal situation. The national minimum marriage age is 18, but exceptions exist. Under Islamic family law, girls can be married younger with court approval. Rights groups have long fought to close these loopholes. Now, Perak's cash handouts would add a financial incentive to help teens wed — something critics say is a huge step backward.

The idea was proposed at the Perak Youth Assembly, an advisory group of young people, and got unanimous approval. A top official, Khairudin Abu Hanipah, defended the plan as a positive initiative that shows the government cares about young couples. He said it would help with the cost of starting a married life.

But many see it as a dangerous signal. If the state pays children to marry, they argue, it sends a message that teen marriage is fine. That can have serious consequences: girls who marry young are more likely to drop out of school, face health problems, and struggle financially. The proposal is still under discussion for the 2027 budget, but the backlash is already strong — and it's reigniting a national argument about the rights of minors.