ALT ALT ALT

DPM: Don’t blame women for being victims of sexual crimes

DPM: Don’t blame women for being victims of sexual crimes

KUALA LUMPUR: Blaming a woman for a crime committed against her due to the way she talks or dresses is wrong, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

“Political leaders, both elected and appointed representatives, must play a role in ensuring that women and also men are constantly protected from sexual violence.

“I was shocked to read Imran’s suggestion that there should be a sexual harassment law to protect men from a woman’s way of speaking and dressing.

“He said this can cause men to be seduced and lead them into committing acts such as incest, rape, inappropriate touching and pornography, among others,” she said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Mohd Imran Abd Hamid caused an uproar in the Dewan Negara while debating the Syarie Legal Profession (Federal Territories) Bill 2019, which was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on July 15.

The retired Navy admiral proposed for a law to protect men from the actions, words and attire of women, claiming it can be used to seduce men into committing sex crimes such as molest, rape and watching pornography.

Imran’s call was even was backed by Dewan Negara deputy president Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Abdul Samad, who said it was a ‘good viewpoint’.

His comments drew ire from various quarters and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described Imran’s comments as an insult to women and downgrades men as immoral people.

Imran had since retracted his proposal and apologised for it.

Wan Azizah, who is also the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said that to blame women for the bad behaviour from men was unacceptable.

“Women should be protected from crimes. How can we blame women for a crime that is committed against them?

“Both men and women have a role to play in developing Malaysia. Statements such as these have no place in Malaysia Baru (New Malaysia),” she said.

While she welcomes Imran’s apology, Wan Azizah said that the PKR senator should have been more considerate and sensitive to the party’s stand on violence against women, including sexual violence and harassment.

She also called for gender sensitisation programmes to be conducted, especially for elected and appointed representatives, to educate them on the cause and consequences of violence against women.

By G Vinod