A Malaysian lawmaker came under fire Wednesday for saying that women who deny their husbands sex were subjecting them to “ psychological and emotional abuse”.
Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh , a Muslim MP from the ruling coalition , said during a parliamentary debate on domestic violence that husbands often suffer emotional attacks rather than physical abuse.
“ Even though men are said to be physically stronger than women , there are cases where wives hurt or abuse their husbands in an extreme manner, ” said the lawmaker , a member of the United Malays National Organisation.
“ Usually , it involves wives cursing their husbands — this is emotional abuse . They insult their husbands and refuse his sexual needs .
“ All these are types of psychological and emotional abuse .”
Marina Mahathir, a prominent women ’ s rights activist, said the lawmaker ’ s view was “ based on ignorance”.
“ Women have a right to say no to sex — this is an old notion that when you marry a woman you own her body , ” she told AFP . “ It does not work that way . It is ridiculous to say men are abused if women say no to sex .”
The 58 - year - old lawmaker , from Terengganu state in Malaysia’ s Muslim heartland , also said that denying a Muslim man the chance to marry a second wife amounted to abuse.
It is legal for Muslim men in Malaysia to have many as four wives. But they must obtain permission from an Islamic , or shariah , court to marry more than one .
More than 60 percent of Malaysia ’ s population of over 30 million are Muslim .
The MP made the comments Tuesday during a debate on amendments to domestic violence legislation .
It is not the first time a lawmaker has sparked controversy with comments about women — a member of Malaysia’ s ruling coalition said in April that girls as young as nine were “ physically and spiritually ” ready for marriage .
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