MP says it’s okay for rapists to marry child victims and sparks outrage

Tasik Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (right) with (from left) Sungai Dua assemblyman Yusoff Mohd Noor and Teluk Air Tawar assemblyman Datuk Jahara Hamid during the press conference at Perda office in Jalan Kampung Gajah in Butterworth yesterday. - Starpic Mustafa Ahmad (22/04/2014).

KUALA LUMPUR: An MP who said it was okay for rape victims to marry their rapist and claimed that some nine-year-olds were “physically and spiritually” ready for marriage has come in for some strong criticism.

Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (pic), in trying to refute Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (Amanah-Kota Raja), told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that some 12- and 15-year-old girls looked older than their actual ages.