COMMENT | In 2018, Malaysia was outraged by the marriage of a 41-year-old Malaysian man to an 11-year-old Thai girl.

He was a father of six. She had never attended school. She became his third wife. The marriage was solemnised in southern Thailand without the Syariah Court’s permission. The man was eventually fined RM1,800 for marrying and practising polygamy without court approval.

The country demanded answers. The government announced that laws would be amended to raise the minimum marriage age for girls from 16 to 18.

We were outraged. We promised reform. Then we moved on.

Eight years later, Malaysia still...