Early marriage proposed

Early marriage proposed

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A prominent opposition Moslem leader has proposed "early marriage" and a reduced dowry to curb promiscuity and negative socializing which Islam forbids, a newspaper reported yesterday.

"It's my hope that youths settle down early to avoid aspersions being cast at them ... and that parents lower the dowries for their daughters," said Nik Abdul Aziz, leader of the fundamentalist Moslem Parti Islam (PAS).

High dowries and costly wedding arrangements were a barrier to early marriage and added to the financial burden facing young couples, The Star newspaper quoted him as saying.