KUALA LUMPUR – Religious affairs minister Datuk Idris Ahmad’s “ignorant and perplexing” comments on allegations made by a 15-year-old that she was sexually abused by her father have provoked the ire of women’s rights groups.
On Tuesday, the PAS vice-president asserted that the victim, who is a child actress, should not have exposed her father’s “bad attitude” in public and on social media, as Islam prioritises the covering of “aib” (indiscretions).
Calling his remark “irresponsible”, the All Women’s Action Society questioned the rationale behind the minister’s statement.
“How are violence and abuse ‘aib’ when the perpetrator violates the boundaries and dignity of his child?” the NGO questioned in a statement to The Vibes.
“By saying what he said, (Idris) indirectly condones child abuse and violence while reinforcing already prevalent victim-blaming norms, perpetuating underreporting by survivors and the continuous vicious cycle of abuse.”
It also stressed that “rasa malu” (shame) of perpetrators should not be considered a factor in dealing with such cases, as the physical, mental and emotional welfare of others – including the victim – are in jeopardy.
“Considering his (Idris’s) highly influential position as religious affairs minister and the far-reaching effects of his words on the largest community in Malaysia, such comments could not be more irresponsibly made,” it added.
‘Victims may hesitate in coming forward’
Expressing similar sentiments, Muslim women’s rights groups Sisters in Islam bemoaned how Idris appears to not be facing any repercussions for his ostensibly harmful declaration.
“What is more concerning is that he (Idris) can get away with making such ignorant and harmful statements. Where is the accountability for a person in his position who says such insensitive things?” the NGO stressed when contacted by The Vibes.
The group also lambasted Idris as being insensible in differentiating between “aib” and crimes such as child abuse, the latter of which can result in affected victims suffering various long-term mental and physical health issues.
“Idris’s statement not only shows how ignorant he is towards the matter, but it also displays victim-blaming and encourages such criminal acts to be swept under the rug, which is what a sexual perpetrator wants,” it claimed.
The NGO pointed out that the mindset of forcing victims to conceal their experiences of abuse might result in survivors being hesitant or afraid to come forward with their stories, leading to perpetrators then “thriving in the silence of their victims”.
Mixed reactions
On Saturday (September 3), the 15-year-old child actor was featured in a podcast by the Bros Gang TV YouTube channel where she detailed the alleged mistreatment she suffered at the hands of a “manipulative” father.
Other than claiming she was forced to watch pornographic videos with him and his friends when she was only 5-years-old, she said her father had coerced her into witnessing him masturbate while also touching her inappropriately.
The child actor said her mother had to bear her father’s financial debts even after their divorce, adding that he would disappear whenever the family needed help.
The allegations have since received mixed reactions from social media users, with some criticising the child actor for “shaming” her family, while others offered words of encouragement and support.
Subsequently, the child actor lodged a police report on September 5, claiming sexual abuse and neglect by her father.
The father was subsequently arrested by police the next day. However, prior to his arrest, he told Getaran, The Vibes’ sister portal, that he was shocked by the allegations and had filed his own police report on the matter.
The man also vehemently denied any wrongdoing on his part, labelling the claims made by his daughter as “extreme and crazy”. – The Vibes, September 8, 2022
