Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim said the girl, who is now 16, is still married to Riduan Masmud, 44.
Riduan, a former restaurant manager, was convicted of raping the girl in 2015 and is currently behind bars.
“We visited the girl at her family home on April 18, and she was in good health, living with her parents while the husband is serving his time in Kepayan prison in Kota Kinabalu,” Rohani told Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai).
She said the girl was given counselling to ensure she was doing well.
However, Rohani added that the girl had told welfare officers that she did not want to go back to school as she was embarrassed by the wide media coverage on her case.
“The girl also told the officer that she is comfortable living with her parents as she can help take care of her siblings.
“The girl has voiced her intention to work so that she can be self-sufficient. The parents also informed us that they have no problems taking care of her,” Rohani said.
Riduan, who had four children aged between two and 17 at the time of the offence, was charged with raping the girl in a vehicle near Kionsom Waterfall in Inanam between 9am and 10am on Feb 18, 2013.
He married the girl in May 2013 to escape conviction and was charged with bribing the girl’s father with RM10,000 to withdraw the police report the girl had made against him.
He was sent to jail after the Kota Kinabalu High Court dismissed the appeal on the statutory rape case.