The new proposed amendments to the Penal Code, especially on the act of rape, is going to be severely abused by the authorities if such an amendment is allowed. I agree with the stand of the Bar Council that certain proposed amendments to the section of the Penal Code that talk about rape is going to be open to abuse. Women should be given protection under the law but such legislative protection should not be used to threaten men into submission.

How on earth is a rape considered a rape when it happens with consent? The situations given and considered by V Sithambaram of the Bar Council Criminal Law Committee are very pertinent and correct. If a woman has a consensual sexual relationship with her male superior but let cries rape, most men might as well resign from their jobs if most of the subordinates are women. Some women will say they have been raped by their male superiors for ulterior motives. It isn't about good lawyers or bad prosecution. It just happens.

Our criminal justice system is such that the police will arrest first and investigate later. When this is done, we fail to realise is that a person's reputation has already been tarnished by a very vindictive woman who might be hell bent on teaching a man a lesson for not taking her seriously. Our women's groups are, however, pressuring the government without stopping to think about the outcome of these new proposed amendments. They seem to think that all rape in Malaysia will come to an end and all marriages in Malaysia will be happy because women have a right to shout rape should the men not behave the way they would want them to.

With marital rape being dismissed by the Parliament Select Committee that is overseeing this amendments, rape by a person who is in authority even with the consent of the woman is taking it a bit too far. If this is the case, it will be better to consider getting the woman to sign a statutory declaration that she is freely giving her consent to have sexual intercourse before getting into the act with her.

Rapes by mediums, 'sinseh' and 'bomoh' are the lamest excuses that can be given for the proposal of this amendment. Why must Malaysian women trust these unqualified, scheming, greedy and lustful men when we have qualified doctors who can examine a person and tell her what is wrong? It is simply a very shallow argument that the government ought not to waste its time with.

Instead of these ridiculous amendments, the government should consider legalising prostitution. At least then we will have a situation where sex can be had in a more human and natural way where pleasure is given in return for money. If these amendments become law, it will be better to have sex with prostitutes and take the chance of dying with AIDS and STDs then to be continuously threatened by women who claim that they care for and love you.

The government might think that it is appeasing the women's groups but it is going to be at the expense of the institutions of family, marriage, fatherhood and the entire Malaysian social fabric. It is no wonder why there is such a large demand for foreign prostitutes in Malaysia.