It is ‘disgusting’ and ‘nauseating’ for PAS to use the recent gang rape incident in Ketereh to push its hudud agenda, said MCA religious harmony bureau chairperson Ti Lian Ker.

He said PAS’ hudud law would not recognise the testimony of women, non-Muslims, and circumstantial evidence, and urged PAS vice president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man to explain how can it be effective under such conditions.

“It is disgusting that PAS is taking advantage of two severely traumatised girls to holler the push to enforce PAS hudud law.

“PAS could have recovered some respect if it had implored the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to come down hard on each and every one of the guilty sex offenders,” Ti said in a statement today.

Ti (left) added that the fact that the two victims were lured into the crime scene before being gang-raped by 38 men shows that the attack was premeditated, and urged PAS to teach men to respect women.

What is more important is that PAS should educate menfolk to respect women and not objectify females, especially naïve, trusting adolescent girls to become convenient targets for sexual battery and gratification, he said.

He was responding to Tuan Ibrahim’s statement yesterday, that last week’s  gang-rape  is proof that the existing penal code is an ineffective deterrent against crime, and the solution is Syariah criminal law.
 
Tuan Ibrahim said that the case cannot be prosecuted under hudud law because of several ambiguities in the case, such as the absence of four impartial witnesses, the fact that the victims had followed some of the men to the house, and others.

However, it can still be prosecuted under takzir (discretion-based judgement), he said, which is another component of the Islamic penal code.
 
PAS reiterates syariah for rape
 
PAS' Dewan Ulama reiterated this stance today, pointing out the penal code only provides for five to 20 years imprisonment and whipping for rape while hudud provides more severe punishment in the form of rejam (stoning to death) or 100 lashes and a year's jail.
 
PAS Dewan Ulama information chief Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali added in the Ketereh case where there are no four witnesses to try the offenders under hudud law, takzir would kick in, relying on DNA and medical evidence.
 
"Punishments under takzir can be more severe than hudud if the courts see a necessity for it. 
 
"Certain Islamic schools of thought allow takzir to mete out death sentences - what more in gang rape cases which bring serious physical and mental trauma and injury to the victim," he said in a statement.
 
Mohd Khairuddin, who is also Kula Nerus MP, added under takzir, the victim is also entitled to compensation from the offenders which is absent in civil law.
 
"It is time for the federal government to be more serious in drafting laws based on Islamic criminal law as an alternative to civil law which has failed to curb rape," he said.
 
MCA wants tougher civil laws
 
Meanwhile, Wanita MCA chief Heng Seai Kie urged the AGC and other law enforcement agencies to “review and increase” the penalty against sex offenders.

“Wanita MCA calls on the public prosecutor’s office to review current laws to check whether or not they serve as a deterrent for would-be rapists,” she said.
 
There definitely is a need to strengthen existing penalties or other methods of punishment and rehabilitation to discourage (or stop) the recurrence of such cases, she added.

Heng (right) also urged parents to maintain a good relationship with their children to keep them away from bad company, and assure them of their unconditional support when trouble strikes.

“Although we cannot prevent our children from being exposed to a complex living environment, we can educate our young ones on  self-protection and self defence awareness.  

Beside, we can always offer our children solace, knowing that their home is a safe haven n their parents will be always there for them when they are in need,” Heng said.