Now an ally, Guan Eng still condemns Shabudin's 'monster' view

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said he still condemns Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya for suggesting that rape victimsshould wed their assailants in order to combat social ills.

“My comment referred to his statement that rape victims could marry their rapists. That is something that I condemn, and I condemn it to this day.

“I don't know if he still holds to those views. Perhaps that is a question he should answer,” he told reporters in Putrajaya today.

Yesterday, Shabudin was one of seven former Umno lawmakers accepted as Bersatu members.

When Shabudin made the controversial remark in 2017, Lim, who was then Penang chief minister, had branded him a monster and demanded his expulsion from BN.

“He is a monster for making such a statement. Do you want the girl to suffer every day, and experience trauma, with her rapist?

"We condemn this monster of an MP, and demand that BN expels him. He should be asked to resign as MP,” he had said.

Shabudin was also the first to raise allegations regarding Lim's bungalow purchase, which resulted in corruption charges that were dropped last year.

The Tasek Gelugor MP quit Umno in December last year.

Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday defended the decision to allow Shabudin to join the party despite his track record.

“I think if I look at your background, I am quite sure you would have committed some minor misbehaviour, something wrong," he told reporters when quizzed on this.

“If you look at everybody's past, you cannot appoint anybody because they have all made mistakes in the past. But you can't hold that against them.

“It's what they are now that counts,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lim said he would raise the issue of former Umno lawmakers joining Bersatu during the Pakatan Harapan presidential council.

“I have raised the matter with (Mahathir) and he has agreed to hold the meeting earlier. We would discuss this in the meeting, in the Harapan spirit.

“That is all I will say on this development,” added the DAP secretary-general. - Mkini