Guan Eng, Penang BN hit out at Shabudin's 'marriage after rape' remarks

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and other state Barisan Nasional (BN) today hit out at Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya for his remarks on rapists marrying their victims, with Lim urging BN and Umno to expel the MP.
Lim said the suggestion was “completely unacceptable” and expressed his outrage and contempt against the parliamentarian.
He said he and his exco members were “ashamed to have such an MP from Penang” and called upon BN to expel Shabudin from their ranks.
“If every rapist marries the victim, are you not sanctioning rape? If BN has any moral honour they should expel him immediately,” he said in a post exco meeting press conference today.
Penang Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Chong Eng said MPs should protect the rights of men, women, boys and girls.
She said the remarks were “totally unacceptable” and called upon other MPs as well as BN lawmakers in Penang to state their stand on the issue.
“We should be promoting good values and not let either sex take advantage of the other,” she added at the same press conference.
theSun has contacted Penang Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin for comment and is waiting his reply at time of writing.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Federal Hudud Technical Committee member Ahmad Jailani Abdul Gani said marriage was no way for rapists to escape justice.
“Regardless the body of the girls are mature or not, they are still underage, therefore the rapists should be charged under the law,” he told theSun when contacted.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said she condemned Shabudin's remarks.
The MCA vice-president called upon her BN colleague to retract and apologise for the suggestion.
“Rape victims are already hurting and in a dilemma, marrying their rapists means they are being hurt again,” she told theSun while Penang Gerakan Wanita chief Hartini Tan described the remarks as disrespecting Malaysian women.