KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2026 was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today, proposing, among other changes, to lower the legal age limit for a child from 21 to 18.
General : Adoption (amendment) Bill 2026 First Reading Seeks To Lower Child Age Limit
Parliament, Dewan Rakyat, Adoption (Amendment) Bil
BE Bernama 
Key points
- According to the Bill published on Parliament’s website, the proposed amendments seek to amend the Adoption Act 1952 (Act 257), including Section 2, which defines a “child”, by reducing the age limit from 21 to 18.
- The Bill states that the proposed change would align the age limit with the citizenship application requirements under the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2025 (Act A1752).
- It would also align the definition with Malaysia’s voting age under the Federal Constitution, the definition of a child under the Child Act 2001 (Act 611), and the age of majority under the Age of Majority Act 1971 (Act 21).
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