KUALA LUMPUR: The rise in statutory rape cases nationwide is due to the failure of civil law, says a PAS MP.
Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik) said statistics released by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain showed that statutory rapes have increased by 11% between last year and early this year.
“This shows the weakness and failure of civil law to prevent underage or statutory rape,” he said when debating the motion of thanks on the Royal Address on Thursday (Feb 27).
Ahmad Tarmizi said this proves that the Syariah law should be fully implemented and added that amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act or Act 355 have to be done immediately to curb the problem.
Recently, Bukit Aman CID director Mohd Shuhaily was reported saying the number of cases of statutory rape involving teenagers aged 16 and below, has increased in recent years.
He said that such acts are classified as rape despite mutual consent as they involve underage victims.
"Based on police records, there is an increase of 202 cases or 11.8% last year compared with 2022," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview.
He expressed particular concern that most of these cases involve the B40 group (low-income households) and that the lack of parental supervision and easy access to pornography online has contributed to the occurrence of such crimes.
