The Star Online > Nation
Tuesday May 25, 2004
Dr Ng shocked by Roselan’s mindset
KOTA KINABALU: The Umno division leader here who made a callous remark
about rape victims has come under scathing attack for his insensitivity.
Wanita MCA chairman Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said she was shocked by
Roselan Juhar’s mindset, adding that it was preposterous to link his
comment to Confucius.
She said Roselan was “confused” because the Chinese philosopher did
not have such a saying attributed to him, adding that Roselan should
apologise to rape victims and women. Dr Ng said Roselan had insulted
Confucius who preached compassion, love and respect.
Women’s Aid Organisation said the statement by Roselan was
misogynistic, insensitive and trivialises the very suffering,
degradation and horror experienced by rape survivors.
Executive director Ivy Josiah said public officials should be made
more aware of the nature and effects of rape before expressing their views.
Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman wants to meet Roselan, the Kota
Kinabalu Umno pro tem committee chief, over his remarks about rape that
has outraged women’s groups.
“What Roselan has said is unacceptable,” Musa said on Sunday.
Musa said he would advise Roselan, who had announced his intention to
contest for the Kota Kinabalu Umno division chief post, to be careful
with his words in future.
Roselan, who was quoted on Saturday as saying that “if you cannot
fight rape, better lie down and enjoy it,” has since apologised for his
remarks which he said had been misconstrued.
“The remarks could have been in bad taste but I did not mean it to
sound like that,” a local newspaper quoted him as saying in a statement.
He also said sexual offences were heinous crimes and that such offences
deserved stiff penalties.
Sabah women leaders including Deputy Minister of Housing and Local
Government Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun and state Umno Wanita chief Datuk
Dayang Mahani Ahmad Raffae have demanded that Roselan retract his remarks.
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Furore over remark on rape
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