Statutory rape: K'tan police chief refuses to retract 'personal view' suggestion

Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat has rejected calls to retract his suggestion for girls in statutory rape cases to be charged alongside the adult male perpetrator.

Yusoff reportedly said it was unnecessary to withdraw the statement as it was his personal opinion.

"Why do I need to retract the statement when it was my opinion? It is up to the government if they want to look into it or otherwise.

"Even if the suggestion is ignored, I have no problem. In fact, the home minister himself has stated that it was my personal view," he told reporters in Kota Bharu today, as quoted by Harian Metro.

Yusoff sparked controversy earlier this month when he made the suggestion, saying nearly 90 percent of statutory rape cases are consensual, based on investigations.

His remarks have been met with widespread criticism from NGOs, lawyers, and politicians, including Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and DAP national adviser Lim Guan Eng, who urged the Kelantan police chief to withdraw his suggestion.

Following this, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has described Yusoff's statements on statutory rape as merely "his personal opinion" and urged the public not to sensationalise the matter.

The issue had also sparked a debate among legal and child welfare experts, who believe the law should be reformed to provide a holistic approach when close-in-age teens are involved.

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