KUALA LUMPUR: Even a goat was not spared from rape, Fuziah Salleh (PH-Kuantan) said while adding that it was irrational to blame victims of rape for their dressing.
"A 74-year-old grandmother was also raped, as was a five-year-old child and a teenage boy," she said while debating the Sexual Harassment Bill in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (July 20).
"Were they wearing sexy clothes?" she asked.
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Fuziah added that it was not helpful to blame victims for their dressing, adding that it was no different from punishing the victim.
She said judgmental remarks and victim blaming may also deter victims from coming forward to lodge complaints.
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Touching on victims being blamed for their revealing outfits, Women, Family and Community Minister Datuk Rina Harun said if the reason that such outfits were used against an individual, it could fall under the category of sexual harassment and referred to the tribunal.
She also noted that incidents of sexual harassment happened when it was directed towards a particular individual.
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She said any uncalled for behaviour in any form, be it verbal or non-verbal, visual, signal or physical directed towards another person that offends, disrespects or harms their well-being is categorised as sexual harrassment.
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