While it praises NST Online's commentary defending convicted rapist Selva Kumar Subbiah from social stigma as an ex convict, mental health group Relate Malaysia questions the portal describing predatory sexual behaviour or "sexual recidivism" as a mental illness.

The group regretted that the article ended with the following sentence:"The American Supreme Court has interpreted this recidivist tendency as a mental health problem and sentences of prolonged incarceration have been handed down."

"To cite the American Supreme Court's judgment in this article without proper context and explanation is unfair to the many Malaysians suffering from a mental illness.

"The American Supreme Court are experts in the law, not experts in mental health," said the group in a posting on its Facebook page today.

The group argued that psychiatrists and clinical psychologists alike have protested the "sexual predator" legislation committing serious sexual offenders to mental health treatment facilities after completing their prison term.

"Sexual violent behaviour is not a mental illness, it is a criminal act. The link between mental illness and sexual recidivism is weak or not significant," said the group.

Relate Malaysia fears that the articles may perpetuate the notion that people with mental illness are violent, arguing that in fact, people with mental illness are far more likely to be victims, than perpetrators of violence.

Such arguments warned the group, may contribute to the stigmatisation of mental illness, and is particularly disappointing as it comes at a time when we are actively encouraging individuals with a mental illness not to be ashamed, and encouraging the community not to stigmatise against mental illness.

"We encourage you, members of the community, to urge NST Online to clarify that that sexual recidivism is not a mental illness," said the group further.