This is a ghen ghen something : Denying husbands sex is abuse – Lawmaker

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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 .