KUCHING: Leaders from both sides of the political divide in the state have slammed Tasek Gelugor member of Parliament Datuk Shahbudin Yahaya for his outrageous statements on rape victims and child marriage.
When debating the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017, Shahbudin, a former Syariah Court judge, claimed as some girls reached puberty as young as the age of nine, it is not impossible for them to get married as they were ‘physically and spiritually’ ready, adding there was ‘nothing wrong’ with a rape victim marrying the rapist, as it could serve as a ‘remedy’ to the increasing number of social problems.
Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he was left totally aghast by Shahbudin’s statement.
“If this is how he looks at things, such as allowing a nine-year-old kid, who has probably just reached puberty, to be married, then this MP needs to be given counselling,” he said as reported by The Borneo Post today.
However, the Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports said there is a need for a review on the age considered statutory rape, as children today mature earlier and many engage in consensual sex with their partners even before reaching the age of 16.
