The role of the government

The government must step up research on incest and publish its negative effects to let the public know of its consequences.

A special fund should be set up by the government to cater for the needs of traumatized families. The offender, usually the breadwinner of the family, may be sent away for a period of time, depriving the family of economic support.

A stiffer punishment for the crime can also be used as a deterrent.

In our country there is no specific law to deal with the crime of incest. A person who commits the offence of incest is charged under the crime of rape, so that there leaves many gaps in the prosecution of the crime of incest.

Another area which the government has to address is the difference in the severity of punishment meted out by the Civil and the Syariah Court. Under syariah law, the maximum punishment for incest is three years and RM3000/= fine. The penal code imposes a jail term between five to twenty years; the Court also has the discretion to impose whipping not exceeding 24 strokes on the offender.