Cover image via Berita Harian
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Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat has clarified that his proposal to review existing laws — particularly in cases of alleged consensual sex classified as rape — was solely his personal view and not the position of any party
According to the Malay Mail, he stressed that there was no need to retract his statement despite calls from various quarters.
"Why should I apologise or withdraw the statement when it was merely my personal opinion? It is up to the government whether to take it into account or not.
"Even if it is not considered, it is not an issue, as Home Minister (Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail) has said it was my personal view," he told reporters after attending the Kelantan investiture ceremony in conjunction with Sultan Muhammad V's 56th birthday celebration at Istana Balai Besar yesterday.
On 21 September, Mohd Yusoff proposed reviewing existing statutory rape laws to ensure both male and female partners face equal legal action
According to the New Straits Times, he explained that the proposal was in response to the rising number of sexual offence cases in Kelantan, with more than 90 per cent involving consensual sex.
While he could not provide exact figures, Mohd Yusoff said investigations showed that most reports were lodged under rape or child protection laws.
"Usually in these cases, only the male suspect is charged. Concerning this, I will propose to the relevant state authorities, including religious departments, to also consider action against the female.
"The evidence is there, the admission is there, and most of these acts happened on a consensual basis," he said.
Mohd Yusoff had also questioned the fairness of prosecuting only one party when both were involved
"Why should only the men be prosecuted when the act took place consensually? We want to curb this trend, and we also want those involved, especially minors, to understand the seriousness and consequences of their actions," he added.
He said under current laws, cases are investigated under Section 376 of the Penal Code for rape or Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, depending on the age of those involved.
Mohd Yusoff added that police would also work with state religious authorities to explore better preventive measures.
