A Malaysian lawmaker has caused outrage after he suggested rape victims should marry their attackers in order to lead a good life and help solve social problems.

Acording to media reports Shabudin Yahya, the MP for the ruling coalition party United Malay National Organisation, said:

“The thing is they have an opportunity – with a marriage they can lead a healthy and good life.”

The MP’s statement came during a debate on Child Sexual Offences Bill in parliament.

“For a woman that was raped, if she can marry she would not go through such a bleak future. At least she has someone who can become her husband. So this will be a remedy for social problems,”

Shabudin said.

He further went on to defend rapists by saying it was not fair to assume that a person who committed a sexual offence will continue to be a bad person.

“Maybe he repents, or regrets. It’s better to have people who regret rather than people who do not regret. So in this case, let us not put an assumption that the person will remain bad. can be an exit clause for this problem,”

he said.

He even said girls aged between 9 and 12 can be married off as they hit puberty at that age and the physical state of their body is already akin to them being 18 years old.

After his remark, he was targeted on social media. A report has been lodgedagainst him. An online petition Titeled “Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Tun Razak : Sack Shabudin Yahya: Marriage doesn't solve rape!” is running on change.org

Inputs from news published on IB Times..

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