No need for Malaysia to consider chemical castration, say experts

Malaysian legal experts argue against employing chemical castration as punishment for sex offenders, citing a lack of evidence that it effectively curbs sexual violence. Jasmine Wong, president of the Association of Women Lawyers, states that research shows rape and sexual violence are driven by power, control, and gender inequality, not uncontrollable urges.

Wong also highlights that chemical castration would violate Malaysia's constitutional right to bodily integrity and personal liberty, raising concerns about non-consensual medical intervention as punishment. Salim Bashir, former Bar Council president, warns that chemical castration is inhumane, degrading, and carries excessive consequences.

He suggests close monitoring and regulation after serving jail terms for sexual offenders. Criminologist P Sundramoorthy of Universiti Sains Malaysia notes that sexual offenses are motivated by various factors, so chemical castration would only address one aspect of the causing behavior. Malaysia's existing punishments for sex offenses are already severe, but Wong recommends extending police supervision and implementing a tiered risk-based monitoring system, along with compulsory psychological evaluation, therapy, and counselling.