Husbands will no longer be exempted from committing a rape offence under the Penal Code if several key proposals to amend rape-related laws by interest groups get the nod from the authorities and become law.

The joint proposal will be presented to the relevant ministries in a bid to convince lawmakers that heavier penalties alone will not deter rape - what is required are broader changes to the Penal Code, the Evidence Act, and the Criminal Procedure Code.