More objections are pouring in over the proposed death penalty for child rapists which is likely to be accepted by the Cabinet soon.

Universiti Sains Malaysia associate professor Dr Rohana Ariffin, who is currently undertaking a project to profile rape perpetrators in prisons, said the proposed penalty was too "drastic" and may lead to adverse consequences for the victims.

For example, she said, due to the heavy penalty, rape perpetrators may decide to kill their victims to prevent themselves from being indentified.

Likewise, those who are related to the perpetrator, such as their father, brother or uncle, may refused to come forward to lodge a report for fear for sending the relative to the gallows.