'Wan Junaidi's statutory rape statement is shallow'
Published: Mar 19, 2014 5:28 AM | Updated: Mar 19, 2014 6:45 AM
Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo has described Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s statement in parliament yesterday that non-Malays are less sensitive to statutory rape as shallow and utter rubbish.
The DAP's Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo has described Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s statement in Parliament yesterday that 'non-Malays are less sensitive to statutory rape' as shallow and utter rubbish.
Describing the deputy home minister’s statement as a very serious allegation, Gobind said it casts a damning insinuation against Malaysia as a whole as if ours is a society in which a part of it condones rape of children, and race plays a role in such incidents.
“This is absolute and utter rubbish. His statement is to my mind most shallow, irresponsible and outrageous especially coming from the deputy home minister.”
“The number of reports to the police which show a lower percentage of non-Malays committing statutory rape do not and cannot support racial factors as relevant in their occurrences nor could it mean that non-Malays are less sensitive to child rape,” he said in a statement.
Wan Junaidi was reported to have said yesterday in Parliament, that Malays are “more sensitive” to minors being victim of statutory rape as opposed to other races as there were a high number of statutory rape cases reported involving Malays.
The deputy minister even suggested that perhaps those of other races are more inclined to accept statutory rape and are thus less inclined to lodge police reports.
“They (Muslims) can’t accept illegitimate children,” Wan Junaidi had said.
‘Show the evidence or apologise’
Gobind further said that Wan Junaidi should show evidence to back up his claim.
“Can he show us how many of such rapes have occurred and gone unreported until now because those affected were of a certain race who ‘were less sensitive towards it’ or ‘could accept it’?,” he asked.
If he does have the evidence, show us. If he does not, I say he must retract and apologise immediately.
Wan Junaidi’s statement has also been attacked by the Malaysian Medical Association president NKS Tharmaseelan, who described it as “disgraceful and preposterously racist”.
Meanwhile, Sarawak PKR head Baru Bian expressed disappointment with the remarks, "especially coming from a minister who is from Sarawak".
"His statement has no basis at all ... he should not bring race or religion into the issue. That is where I think he is very irresponsible...," Baru said.
"No one will accept their child being raped. We ask him to apologise."
Describing the deputy home minister’s statement as a very serious allegation, Gobind said it casts a damning insinuation against Malaysia as a whole as if ours is a society in which a part of it condones rape of children, and race plays a role in such incidents.
“This is absolute and utter rubbish. His statement is to my mind most shallow, irresponsible and outrageous especially coming from the deputy home minister.”
“The number of reports to the police which show a lower percentage of non-Malays committing statutory rape do not and cannot support racial factors as relevant in their occurrences nor could it mean that non-Malays are less sensitive to child rape,” he said in a statement.
Wan Junaidi was reported to have said yesterday in Parliament, that Malays are “more sensitive” to minors being victim of statutory rape as opposed to other races as there were a high number of statutory rape cases reported involving Malays.
The deputy minister even suggested that perhaps those of other races are more inclined to accept statutory rape and are thus less inclined to lodge police reports.
“They (Muslims) can’t accept illegitimate children,” Wan Junaidi had said.
‘Show the evidence or apologise’
Gobind further said that Wan Junaidi should show evidence to back up his claim.
“Can he show us how many of such rapes have occurred and gone unreported until now because those affected were of a certain race who ‘were less sensitive towards it’ or ‘could accept it’?,” he asked.
If he does have the evidence, show us. If he does not, I say he must retract and apologise immediately.
Wan Junaidi’s statement has also been attacked by the Malaysian Medical Association president NKS Tharmaseelan, who described it as “disgraceful and preposterously racist”.
Meanwhile, Sarawak PKR head Baru Bian expressed disappointment with the remarks, "especially coming from a minister who is from Sarawak".
"His statement has no basis at all ... he should not bring race or religion into the issue. That is where I think he is very irresponsible...," Baru said.
"No one will accept their child being raped. We ask him to apologise."
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