PETALING JAYA: MCA welcomes the advice of former Terengganu mufti Datuk Ismail Yahya to people not to misuse Prophet Muhammad’s name to justify rape and marriage.

"Ismail, who is a former mufti, in a sharp and stinging rebuke against Shabudin (Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya) had advised against his suggestion that rape victims should marry their rapists as a remedy to social problems.

"Shabudin’s statement is not only is outrageous, but serves as a double punishment for rape victims by mocking the sexual assault against them," said MCA religious harmony bureau chairman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.

Ismail was speaking at a forum on child marriages on Sunday, where he chided Muslims for misusing the religion to justify sex with minors.

Shabudin came under fire last month when he suggested in Parliament that rapists should be allowed to marry their child victims as a solution to the issue of statutory rape. He issued a statement later to say that his words had been taken out of context.

Ti said Shabudin's statement had landed Malaysia in news reports for all the wrong reasons throughout the world.

"Even worse, coming from an Umno MP in Penang, Shabudin’s ludicrous advice makes it difficult for Barisan Nasional to win back the state.

"Shabudin should heed Ismail’s advice against rape victims marrying their assailants,” Ti said in a press statement.

He said Ismail’s advice reasserts the values of justice, compassion and respect for women as taught in Islam.

Ti said more forums should be organised to bring attention to the issue of child marriages which many hold opinions against, but do not have the courage to openly voice it out due to societal pressure.

He added that MCA agreed that under no circumstances should any rape victim, irrespective of gender, be cajoled, convinced, instructed or suggested to marry one’s assailant, more so, when the victim is underaged.

“Instead, mandatory jail time and caning should be imposed on rapists while the victims should be given emotional support and counselling to recover,” Ti said.