Malaysia: MP says wives denying permission for polygamy, sex, cause 'emotional abuse' to husbands

A Malaysian politician has drawn flak for his regressive comments during a discussion on domestic violence in the country's national parliament.

Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (58) of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition claimed that women withholding sex from their husbands caused “emotional and psychological abuse”. Che also said that men suffered more than women in a marriage.

“Men are generally physically stronger than women so they are subjected to emotional and psychological abuse, which is even worse. This includes having a wife who denies conjugal rights to her husband or one who constantly nags,” he said. Further referring to Malaysia’s controversial polygamy laws, Che said men were denied permission to marry up to four women by their "nagging" wives.

Che's comments received strong criticism from women's rights activist Marina Mahathir, daughter of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed. "This is an old notion, that when you marry a woman you own her body. It does not work that way," she told AFP.

Angry public reactions included some who said marriage did not mean women had to become slaves to anyone to others who pointed out that the MP had blatantly said wives were sex objects.