Malaysia is considering the death penalty for child...

Malaysia is considering the death penalty for child rapists after a series of sexual assaults on children, including infants, a cabinet minister was quoted as saying. "It is very likely that the proposal will be accepted," Rais Yatim, the country's de facto law minister, was reported as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper. "I believe if stiffer punishment is not meted out, there will be no end to rape and murder cases, whose victims include children," he added. The nation was shocked recently by the discovery of a two-year-old girl found dead in a river, her body carrying evidence of sexual assault, according to police. The infant also had 40 slash wounds. Police arrested a 23-year-old man as a suspect. Rape carries a jail sentence of not less than five years and whipping. For cases where incest is also involved, the penalty is at least six years imprisonment with whipping. The death penalty is used as punishment for murderers and drug traffickers.