PKR senator Mohd Imran Abd Hamid has apologised for his controversial suggestion to introduce a sexual harassment law protecting men from being seduced by women into committing rape and other crimes.
In a statement today, he retracted the proposal which he put forward in the Dewan Negara yesterday.
“Although my intentions were sincere, I did not expect it to be seen as a huge mistake which offended many women, as well as men who considered it an insult.
“As such, I offer my apologies and retract my proposal,” he said.
Imran, a retired navy admiral, was roundly criticised for his proposal.
Earlier today, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had rejected Imran’s idea, calling it “unreasonable and insulting to women” and demanding he retracts his proposal. Anwar said Imran’s proposal also insulted men by depicting them as having a lack of self-control and morals.
Sabah PKR Wanita called for him to be replaced due to his repeated insulting remarks against women.
Its chief Rahimah Majid said such a move would be necessary in order to send a clear and firm message against the “derogatory” proposal made by him.
Rahimah, who is also a member of the PKR central leadership council (MPP), said it was important for the party to take drastic action against the senator whose proposal had clearly tarnished the image of the country, the Parliament and the party.
“By now, his perverted thought of perceiving and portraying the womenfolk in the country as the ‘seducers and sinners’ has become an international laughing stock.
“Please bear in mind that this is not the first time that he has made such an outrageously insulting remark against women.
“In 2015, while debating in the Dewan Rakyat, he suggested that participants wearing sexy attire at sporting events could lead to illicit sex if they mingled freely with people,” she said.
Rahimah said PKR, as a responsible, trustworthy political party and a component of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, must do the right thing.
“A failure to replace him (would mean) the party risks losing integrity and being shunned by the people,” she said.
She said a “lesser or lenient” action by the party leadership would send the wrong message.
“Senator Mohd Imran’s ludicrous proposal is akin to asking the government to enact laws to protect corrupt government officials from being bribed by others or to protect the snatch thieves from being lured by the victims.
“As a progressive, sound-minded nation and society, we must collectively and vehemently voice our concern and disapproval against politicians with such nonsensical, outrageous viewpoints, failing which we risk reducing ourselves to a pariah state,” she said.
Centre For A Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) vice-president Ng Yeen Seen said the statement was appalling and an insult to men, the Dewan Negara and all women.
She said a person with a twisted view was unfit to be a member of the august house or to play a role in good governance.
“Political parties have to accept some of the blame for endorsing those who are out of touch with society, ” she said.
Ng said numerous scientific findings have shown that rape cases have nothing to do with how a victim dressed.
“Rape cases often stemmed from a perpetrator’s desire to exert power over his victims. Many rape cases, including incest, are committed by those known to the victims, including relatives, so Imran’s views do not hold water, is misogynistic and detached from reality,” she said.
Ng added that Malaysian men do not need a law to ensure that they behaved properly.
Responding to Imran’s call for a sexual harassment law to protect men from being “seduced” into committing crimes such as rape, Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto said there is no such law in the world.
The human rights activist and international secretary for Wanita DAP questioned why the “disturbing” trend of blaming innocent persons for incest and molest carries on until today.
“I’m appalled by this statement,” she said, referring to Imran’s statement in the Dewan Negara today that men can be influenced to commit acts like rape, molest and incest.
Imran proposed such a law when debating the Syarie Legal Profession (Federal Territories) Bill 2019.
“This is important. We men need to be protected. The actions and clothing of women can seduce us into breaking the law and cause us to be charged with a crime.”
He cited crimes such as incest, rape, molestations, and watching pornography as examples.
Imran had addressed his proposal to de facto Religious Affairs Minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who did not respond to the former when wrapping up the debate.
The proposal was backed by senate deputy president Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Abdul Samad, who said it was a “good viewpoint”.
Speaking to FMT, Kasthuri said this made no sense as there are laws in the country that criminalise rape.
“I can’t wrap my brain around this argument. It’s 2019 and the trend of victim-blaming is still continuing.
“These are the types of men who claim ownership over women, who have no regard for respect of women and who are driven by their misogynistic and patriarchal beliefs that women are mere pieces of property and they can take what they want.”
Kasthuri, who is a member of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Rights and Gender Equality, asked how this logic made sense when it came to rape cases, sexual assault and harassment involving babies, children, mothers and even grandmothers.
“Senators like Imran must not give a bad name to other men out there who respect women and also respect the rule of law as far as violence and sexual violence against women and children are concerned.”
She called on all men and women to condemn victim-blaming, noting that some of them might be victims of sexual assault or violence themselves.
“How many times have we heard the man on the street saying, ‘What was he or she doing out so late at night?’ or ‘Why was he or she wearing this and that?’
“Time and time again, it is always the victim’s fault.”
Kasturi expressed hope that a sexual harassment bill will be tabled soon, with its contents made public on the Parliament website to get feedback from stakeholders.
She said this will ensure that such a Bill will be comprehensive and will not leave anyone out in any field of employment or even in education.
Everyone who has been a victim of sexual harassment must be protected by the law, she said.
The government is withholding the tabling of such a bill in Parliament pending the completion of a feasibility study.
The All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) also condemned Imran’s proposal saying it was unacceptable for the senator to place the blame of rape, molestation, incest, porn and otherwise on the victim.
“It is the perpetrator who must take responsibility for their own actions. The idea that victims are unable to access justice or demand some form of redress after undergoing such a dehumanising experience simply adds to the creation of a culture of fear and violence,” the women’s rights group said in a statement.
Former Association of Women Lawyers president Goh Siu Lin said the focus here should be on educating abusers, harassers or rapists and making those who violate the rights of others accountable.
“If Imran is sincere in making our country safer for women and children and many other victims of sexual crimes (not all women), then he should begin listening to the victims, respect them as people and dispel the fallacy that men have uncontrollable sexual urges that cannot be reined in,” she said.
Goh added, “simple concepts” such as consent before any sexual interaction takes place or to treat one another as equals and with respect “should suffice” to “protect” men from sexual crimes.
Meanwhile, human rights watchdog Suaram called for Imran to immediately issue a public apology and retract his remarks, saying such claims were “absurd”.
Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said such remarks also perpetuate the culture of impunity where the victim is further victimised for a crime inflicted upon them.
“It is equally appalling that there was no immediate censure against the senator by the presiding deputy speaker at the time nor other senators in the upper house.
“The fact that a senator was able to utter such remarks shows the level of ignorance and apathy towards gender-based violence and gender discrimination among lawmakers within Dewan Negara.”
Sevan said Imran and those who agreed with his views must be directed to attend courses on gender equality and gender-based violence “to put an end to such a farce” in Parliament.
Meanwhile, Women, Family, and Community Development Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh called for a stop in blaming survivors of sex crimes on their choice of clothing, considering women who cover up and men are also similarly affected.
“Babies and young children have been victims of a similar crime. They do not know how to seduce men, yet they become part of the statistics.
“God did not make men equal with animals. Men were given will power to decide, to think, to exercise restraint,” Yeoh had said.
Likewise, Sisters in Islam and activist Ivy Josiah also urged Imran not to hold women responsible for men’s attitudes and behaviours.
Wanita PKR chief Haniza Talha also criticised the senator, telling Malaysiakini that rape happened to women who were decently dressed.
Haniza told the online news portal that incest, rape, and watching pornography are all driven by lust.
She recommended those who are feeling such desires to follow Islamic teachings and to fast.
Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi in a tweet, said that men who worry of being seduced by women, should instead invest in a blindfold.
“My advice to men who worry that you will be seduced by the clothes of women wear. Please wear a pair of eye mask whenever you step out of your room. So your daughter, aunties, neighbours and all other unknown women will be safe. And hence you will be safe too!’’ she said in jest.
Another Pakatan Harapan politician, Kota Anggerik assemblymen and Selangor PKR Youth Chief Najwa Halimi said that such a law would only serve to demean men.
“No need. Such acts are an insult to men,’’ he said in a tweet posting.