Accra:The Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2026 was introduced for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today, proposing to lower the legal age limit for a child from 21 to 18.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah announced that the Bill is scheduled for its second and third readings during the current parliamentary session.

The proposed amendments aim to update the Adoption Act 1952 (Act 257), specifically Section 2, to redefine a 'child' by reducing the age limit. The change is intended to align the age limit with the citizenship application requirements under the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2025 (Act A1752).

Furthermore, the Bill seeks to synchronize the definition of a child with Malaysia's voting age as per the Federal Constitution, the Child Act 2001 (Act 611), and the age of majority under the Age of Majority Act 1971 (Act 21).