關注社會:馬來西亞“少女新娘”引發的深思

A 14-year-old girl married a 23-year-old teacher. Oh, it did not take place in Africa, a Middle East country or a hidden tribe in Papua New Guinea, but Malaysia.

一位14歲的女孩出嫁了。男方23歲，是位教師。 這不是非洲，這不是中東，這不是巴布亞新幾內亞深山老林裏的原始部落，這是馬來西亞。

To be honest, I felt nausea after reading the news. Alas, 14 years old! At the age of 14, girls are not fully grown yet and they are not physically and mentally mature. At this age, they should be studying and nestling in the arms of their parents. Their life has just started and there are many things waiting for them to experience and complete.

說真的，看到這個新聞，我一陣眩暈。唉，才14歲呀！14歲，還是個孩子，身心都未成熟。這個年齡的孩子，應該還在學校讀書，應該還在父母的懷裏撒嬌。她們的生活纔剛剛開始，有太多的事情需要她們去經歷，去完成。

Of course, if some are premature, a 14-year-old girl might fall in love with a boy or a man, such as her teacher. She might also want to marry him. It is not a big deal. It is just a girl's fantasy, or some call it puppy love. However, it definitely does not mean that she should marry the man or have sexual relations with him as it is just an illusion and cannot become a reality.

當然，如果早熟，一個14歲的女孩也許會愛上一個男孩，或者一個男子，比如她的老師，憧憬着和他步入婚姻殿堂。 但這能算什麼呢？這只是少女的懵懂情感，只是少女不切實際的幻想，有人稱之爲早戀。但絕不意味着女孩真的嫁給他，和他同牀共眠。

After a period of time, she will find how childish she was and awake from her fantasy. She will then say goodbye to the Prince Charming in her dream and continue to grow up. Of course, there are some exceptions. Some girls might be obsessed with their fantasy and refuse to wake up. When this happens, family and society, as well as morality and law will have to step in and play a role to prevent underage sexual relations and young marriage. The life of an underage girl, after all, has just started and there are still many ideals to be realised. They should not be a man's wife and children's mother in advance.

過上一段時間，女孩就會從這種幻想中醒來，那時她會發現自己的那些想法是多麼的幼稚。於是她會道別夢中的白馬王子，重新踏上人生旅程。當然也有例外。有些女孩沉迷於幻想不願醒來。 此時，家庭與社會、道德和法律將會介入，以阻止這種過早的婚姻和性。一個女孩，尚未到結婚年齡，她們的生活纔剛剛開始，她們的心中還充滿夢想。不應過早地爲人婦、爲人母。

Underage marriages take place only in the past feudal times and tribal societies. From the civilisation perspective, it is immoral and not permitted by law. In Malaysia, the legal marriage age is 18 according to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976. As for Muslims, men must be at least 18 years old while girls must be 16 years old or above. Of course, the law also provides that having sexual relations with an underage girl, whether she does it voluntarily or by force, is considered as rape. These are the safety net to protect underage girls.

早婚，那是封建社會和部落社會中才有的現象，在文明社會中，早婚是不道德的，也爲法律所不容。在馬來西亞，按照1976年（結婚與離婚）法律改革法案規定，結婚年齡是18歲。穆斯林男子至少18歲才能結婚，女子是16歲。 法律中也有規定：與未成年女子發生性關係，不論對方是自願還是被迫，均屬強姦。我們有保護未成年女子的安全網絡。

However, there are still loopholes to the safety net. Siti Maryam Mahmood, 14, and her 23-year-old teacher Abdul Manan Othman got married after being given permission in an Islamic Sharia court. They also took part in a 1Malaysia wedding reception organised by the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi).

但這個安全網絡還是有漏洞，14歲的西蒂（Siti Maryam Mahmood）和她23歲的老師阿卜杜爾（Abdul Manan Othman）經一個伊斯蘭教法庭的同意結婚了。並且參加了聯邦伊斯蘭事務部爲他們操辦的婚宴。

Leaving religious factors aside, it is actually a humanity and social problem. The personalities of girls at this age are not sound yet and they are not mentally mature. Regardless whether they do it voluntarily or passively, it is a deprival of their innocence and childhood. How should she live her life in the future? Should she get prepared for school or feed her children when she gets up in the morning? Should she do her homework and play or serve her husband when she returns from school in the afternoon? She would not be able to stay innocent and return to her childhood to do things that most 14-year-old girls do.

先把宗教因素放在一邊，這實際上是一個人道問題，也是一個社會問題。這個年齡的女孩人格並不健全，心理也不成熟。不論她們是自願還是被迫，這都剝奪了她們的天真爛漫。她將來的日子怎麼過？早上起來，是打理書包準備上學，還是爲哭啼的小兒穿衣餵飯？晚上回來，是做完作業後玩耍還是一心一意侍奉郎君？恐怕再也找不回本應屬於她的那份天真。

As for the 23-year-old husband, how could he marry a little girl? He could actually marry a grown woman, or at least, wait until Siti achieves the legal marriage age. Is he a paedophile? Would parents send their children to the school with such a teacher? Have Siti's parents fulfilled their responsibilities to protect her? What kind of example has the marriage set to the society?

那位23歲的丈夫，他怎麼能娶一個這麼小的女孩呢？他本可以娶一個成熟的女子，至少他也要等西蒂到了結婚的年齡再與她結婚。他是不是患上了戀童癖？誰家父母還敢把孩子送到他們學校上學？ 西蒂的父母盡到保護女兒的責任了嗎？這樁婚姻會給社會帶來怎樣的惡果呢？