Wan Junaidi’s answer on rape shocked M’sians

PETALING JAYA: The baffling answers to justify low incidence of statutory rape among non-Malay children by Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar shocked the country, including the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).

According to its president Dr N K S Tharmaseelan, Junaidi’s answer is disgraceful considering that it was made during discussion in parliament that is supposed to look into the welfare of all Malaysians irrespective of race or religion.

Junaidi was reported saying: “This doesn’t mean the cases mostly involve Malays. Because Malays are culturally more sensitive about its youth and non-Malays are more accepting about it so the margin is lower,” in a response to a question from Setiu MP Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh on what the government was doing to address the high number of statutory rape cases in the country.

Tharmaseelan was also puzzled as to why nobody in parliament deemed Junaidi’s statement as insensitive.

“This is a preposterous racist and insensitive reply. I am surprised there was no uproar by fellow parliamentarians on either side of the aisle.

“Even the speaker, who is supposedly to be ‘neutral ‘ felt fit to allow the answer to stand, rather than having it struck off from the records where it will remain in posterity and a ‘ black mark ‘ in history . He should have been admonished,” he added.

He also insisted that all Malaysians, regardless of their ethnicity and religion, raise their children with love and religious virtues and moral character.

“This statement is so insensitive more so considering that it comes from a parliamentarian who is supposed to read the pulse of the people. Or was there another motive, to garner support from members of his own ethnic background? Such ulterior motives need to be censured,” he added.

According to Tharmaseelan, even trained psychologists will not use race and religion to explain why some abuse their children sexually.

“Welfare and social workers will not venture to state their views as to why there are differences in reported rates as it has nothing to do with ethnic, religious or cultural differences. Assigning blame to race and ethnicity shows the level some stoop to defend the criticism rather than looking for answers to resolve them.

“When such evasive and dismissive replies are given to a burning problem it becomes pervasive within the community. Pushing major issues under the carpet because it is embarrassing will not help to resolve the problem which has become wide-spread,” he said.

He added that politicians must be told not to use race, religion and ethnicity as an excuse to defend social problems.

“They should ask for answers if they do not know and not give silly provocative answers. I am sure all Malaysians are shocked by the reply,” he said.

Free Malaysia Today