Sabah must Act on Long-Delayed Reforms to End Child Marriage

22 January 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Former Kapayan ASSEMBLYWOMAN Datuk Jannie Lasimbang has renewed calls for decisive action to end child marriage in Sabah, urging the state government to implement long-delayed legal reforms.

She said a comprehensive 10-year programme to amend Native and Syariah laws had been developed during her tenure as Assistant Minister of Law and Native Affairs from 2018 to 2020, but was not implemented by the previous state government.

She noted that amendments to the Native Court Enactment aimed at addressing child marriage had been approved by the Attorney General’s Chambers more than five years ago, yet remain stalled at Cabinet level.

Jannie called on the Minister of Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing to approve the proposed amendments without further delay.

She also urged the ministry to strengthen training for Native Court personnel and to continue supporting awareness programmes led by non-governmental organisations in rural communities identified as being at high risk across Sabah.