KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 — DAP veteran leader Lim Guan Eng has condemned as “ethically wrong” a proposal by Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat to amend the law so that victims of statutory rape who consent to sex can also be punished.
In a statement today, Lim, who is also the Bagan MP, said the suggestion “clearly forsakes” the duty of a senior police officer to protect women and children from sexual predators.
“Police officers like him bear a fundamental duty to defend and safeguard society, particularly the weak and law-abiding citizens, especially women, children and the vulnerable,” he said.
“How can this be achieved when the rape victim is also penalised together with the culprit?” Lim asked, describing the proposal as “not just misguided but [showing] a complete lack of sympathy, empathy and compassion for girls who are minors and victims of statutory rape”.
Malaysia’s age of consent is 16, and the law treats sex with a minor as statutory rape even if the minor agrees.
Lim said the law exists “to protect young girls from sexual exploitation due to their tender age as they are not mature and knowledgeable enough to be able to decide on their own to consent to sex”.
He noted that similar laws apply in most countries, with the only difference being the specific age of consent.
“What makes Malaysia so different that the victim must be punished merely for giving consent when she is not legally capable to do so?” he asked.
Lim urged the Kelantan police chief to withdraw the proposal, apologise “for his insensitivity towards women and girls”, and focus instead on addressing the rise in rape and statutory rape cases in the state.
Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat was reported yesterday as suggesting that underage girls who willingly engage in sex should also face legal consequences when their partners are prosecuted for statutory rape.
He argued that such a move would deter teenagers from sexual activity, noting that most cases in the state involve mutual consent but current laws focus on male offenders.
Yusoff said he planned to raise the idea with the Attorney General’s Chambers and other authorities for further discussion, amid rising reports of sexual crimes involving minors in Kelantan.
