More men will use child marriages as a way to escape punishment once the Sexual Offences against Children Act comes into force, warned Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.

This is because the new law is more stringent, with Section 15(a) of the proposed Act stating that touching any part of a child's body sexually is an offence, punishable with up to 20 years' imprisonment, and possible whipping.

"If we don't ban child marriages, after this law is enforced, we will see child marriages increasing, because for the (perpetrators) to get away they will get married (to the victim)," Teo said at a press conference in the Parliament media room today.