KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Women, Family, and Community Development minister Hannah Yeoh had condemned PKR senator Mohamad Imran Abd Hamid over his suggestion to enact a new law to "protect men" with regard to sexual crimes.
In a statement, Yeoh said she was appalled that the suggestion, which she labelled as “disgusting”, was even agreed by the Senate deputy president Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Abd Samad.
"Babies and young children have been victims of a similar crime. They do not know how to seduce men, yet they become part of the statistics.
“God did not make men equal to animals. Men were given will power to decide, to think, to exercise restraint. I am appalled that the Senate housed such discussion, even agreed by the (Senate) Deputy President (Datuk Seri Abd Halim Abd Samad)".
She said women should not be blamed for their clothing, noting that women who cover up are also subjected to harassment and rape.
“Even men can be raped by other men. Rightfully, there should be an apology to all women for such distasteful comments.”
Earlier, Mohamad Imran put forth a suggestion that there be a sexual harassment law to protect men from a woman's way of speaking and dressing, which can cause men to be seduced, which will then lead them into committing acts such as incest, rape, inappropriate touching and pornography, among others.
Stating that "this was important", Mohamad Imran explained that men too needed to be protected because such ways of dressing would lead to men being seduced and they could then break the country's laws and subsequently be charged for these crimes.
The proposal was backed by Abdul Halim, who said it was a “good viewpoint”.