Penan Task Force To Have Indigenous Rep
An indigenous representative will be part of the task force set up to investigate claims that Penan women and girls have been allegedly sexually abused by loggers.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said the task force would meet for the first time next Wednesday before heading to Sarawak.
“We are very focused on looking into the plight of Penan women and girls. We will ensure that all accusations are thoroughly investigated.
“We must ensure that Penan women and children are protected and not exploited,” she said here on Friday after launching a manual for assistance from Welfare Department.
Last month, the Bruno Manser Fund, a Swiss environmental non-governmental organisation, highlighted on its website that Penan women and schoolgirls in Baram were allegedly sexually abused by timber workers with some ending up pregnant.
It was reported that many Penan families had to rely on school transport by timber companies, making matters worse.
Dr Ng said the Cabinet was very supportive of the task force when briefed on Wednesday.
She added that a DNA test could be done on Penan women who became pregnant after alleged sexual abuse to track down the perpetrators.
The task force, would also comprise of representatives from NGOs such as the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) and the Women’s Centre for Change, Penang, the police and representatives from relevant ministries such as the Home Ministry and the Health Ministry.
Dr Ng said her ministry’s director-general Datuk Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur would visit the area first with task force members and the police and she would be paying a visit next month.
On the manual, Dr Ng said it would serve as a guide to welfare officers and local leaders to help them search for those eligible for welfare but were not registered.
The initiative, known as Projek Cari would also see the appointment and training of 870 temporary officers to aid in the search including providing them with the necessary skills and “heartware”.
“We hope to identify families within two months as the poor cannot wait. Last year, 70,970 families received aid worth RM157mil. We hope to double this figure,” she added.
Those who need help could also call Talian Nur at 15999, she added.
Under Budget 2009, the eligibility criterion for welfare assistance was raised from a monthly household income of RM400 to RM720 in the peninsula, RM830 for Sarawak and RM960 for Sabah.