PARLIAMENT In an explanation that can only be described as baffling, Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Wan Jaafar believes that Malays are "more sensitive" to minors being victim of statutory rape as opposed to other races.

According to him, this is the reason why there is a high number of statutory rape cases reported involving Malays.

Speaking in Parliament, the deputy minister suggested that perhaps those of other races are more inclined to accept statutory rape and are thus less inclined to lodge police reports.

"They (Muslims) can't accept illegitimate children," Wan Junaidi said during Question Time today, in reply to Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (BN-Setiu).

Statistics reveal that Malays make up 80 percent of the total statutory rape cases reported.

"Malays have more reports compared to other races because they are Muslims who can't accept a child out of wedlock, pre-marital sex, and because these acts are wrong by Islamic law ( zina )," the former Parliament deputy speaker said.

 
He said that though the number of reports has reduced, the numbers are still "worrying" since children between 13 to 16 years old make up almost 90 percent of the total reports.
 
Wan Junaidi said that the family institution is more crucial in overcoming this issue.
 
"The role of parents is extremely huge in educating their children and monitoring their movement," he said.

Malaysian laws stipulates that sexual intercourse with those aged 15 and below is considered statutory rape.