Video of Tasek Gelugor MP's statement goes viral
BY MEI MEI CHU
PETALING JAYA: A video of Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya's (pic) controversial statement about child marriages in Parliament has gone viral, which appears to raise questions on his claim that his remarks were taken out of context.
After coming under fire for his suggestion that it is okay for rapists to marry their child victims, Shabudin released a three-page statement lashing out at several media outlets for failing to point out the fact that underage children can get married after they reached puberty.
In the Parliament recording, Shabudin argued that it is not a problem for children under 16 years old to marry as their body are physically mature enough for marriage.
He said a child who has reached puberty, even at nine years old, can be considered matured.
He added in some cases, someone aged 12 and 15 years old could physically look like they were 18, and thus would be ready for marriage.
"In some instances, it is not impossible that they get married if they have reached puberty at the age of nine. A 12-year-old may have a body of an 18-year-old which means some girls are "physically and spiritually" ready for marriage," he said.
The former Syariah court judge is mulling legal action against the media.
The Star Online's April 4 report of the issue quoted his remarks in Parliament on Tuesday as follows: "The former Syariah court judge added that some girls who reached puberty when they were as young as nine years old were 'physically and spiritually ready for marriage.'
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/04/08/video-of-tasek-gelugor-mps-statement-goes-viral/#C1dzKDV2hFXq5JWS.99
