MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek has defended party women’s wing vice-chairperson Heng Seai Kie's claim that PAS condones the rape of non-Muslim women who do not conform to the Islamic dress code.

Chua said that what Heng said was saying that it was true.

“He (PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat) said that they deserved to be raped, and the reason that he gave is that eye is connected to the genitalia and when you ‘see’, you get provoked.

“That is not what I said, please. That was what Nik Aziz said and we can get you the tape immediately if you are interested in seeing,” he said at a press conference today when asked to comment on Heng's statement .

The video was reportedly recorded around 2008, but did not make any mention of non-Muslims.

When it was pointed out that Nik Aziz was addressing a Muslim audience and Heng was talking to a non-Muslim one and had taken it a step further to imply that Nik Aziz said that non-Muslim women deserve to be raped, Chua remained adamant and repeated Nik Aziz’s supposed statement.

“Because you do not tutup ( aurat ; or protect modesty) and your eyes are connected to your genitalia, then it provokes you. All these young men... you know lah,” he said.

'Figure has solid foundations'

Chua also defended his statement in a video blog on Thursday where he claimed PAS’ hudud law would result in 1.2 million job losses , citing an anonymous SMS.

“When I mentioned an SMS giving the figure of 1.2 million, some thought I was crazy but in reality it has solid foundations,” he said, before listing the industries that would be affected such as tourism, cinemas, hospitality and gambling.

When asked to comment on criticism against him for using unverified sources, Chua said, “No, I don’t have to quote my source. I was using my simple logic just now,” he said.

He said if Pakatan Rakyat comes to power, it would implement its RM1,100 minimum wage, abolish highway tolls, as well as implement hudud, resulting in massive job losses.

“If you add these figures, 1.2 million is not an exaggerated figure,” he said, adding that it would have been higher if it were his own estimate.

He also said that MCA had been successful in raising awareness on the issue and it was a hot topic during recent closed-door dialogues that he attended.

Chua was speaking to reporters after attending a closed-door briefing session for MCA leaders on current affairs issues that have been politicised by Pakatan Rakyat “to the point where people don’t even understand the underlying issue”, he said.

These include education, economy, hudud, claims that Malaysia would be bankrupt, and whether Pakatan Rakyat’s alternative budget is feasible or a mere election ploy.

“These are the issues MCA consider important so that our members and the people do not get confused by Pakatan Rakyat,” he said, while acknowledging the coalition’s prowess in spinning Internet propaganda.

He said the party’s services had improved, but its publicity need more work and he had given orders to do so.

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