BN backbencher supports forcing rape victims to marry their rapists

KUALA LUMPUR: A BN backbencher has supported marriage after rape as a solution to social problems.
Although admitting that rape is a crime, Datuk Shabudin Yahya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) said there was nothing wrong in the eye of the law for a rape victim to marry the rapist.
"Maybe with the marriage, (the rapist) can lead a different life that is better.
"And the girl who was raped, if she can get married she will not go through an uncertain future. At least she has a husband, this is a remedy to social problems," he said during a debate on a motion to ban child marriages.
Shabuddin, who was a former Syariah Court judge, said such marriage can also lead to the rapist repenting and be a good solution for the victim.
He stressed that Muslims girls under 16 years must receive the syariah court's permission before getting married.
Citing his past experience as a syariah judge, Shabudin explained how underaged girls with "unruly lifestyles" managed to change their lives for the better after marrying good husbands.
The motion to ban child marriages was proposed by Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai) to amend the Sexual Offences against Children Bill, which was passed later.
Teo had cited several examples, including a case where a 35-year-old man married an underaged girl and raped his sister-in-law, to highlight how child marriages often end up causing more hurt to the girl.
Shabudin's view however was rebutted by Siti Mariah Mahmud (Amanah-Kota Raja), who said that child marriages was not a good way to address such issues, as the husband could be "useless" man.
Shabudin however said it was unfair to condemn or judge someone as a bad person forever, as they may repent.
"Maybe the husband had raped her (before marriage), but we cannot say that the husband will be a useless and evil person forever," he said.
He also disagreed with Siti Mariah that girls aged 12 years old are too young to be married.
"When we discuss 12 and 15-year-olds, we don't see their physical bodies, because some children aged 12 or 15, their bodies are like 18-year-old women.
"So it's not impossible for them to get married," Shabudin said, adding that girls who attained puberty even at the age of nine were "physically and spiritually ready" for marriage.
Teo's motion however was rejected.