Tak perlu susah susah menyemak kat Sarawak.
KUCHING – After years of making noise and hurling abuse against the police, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Wanita Chief, Zuraida Kamaruddin finally lodged an official police report and agree to bring the Penan rape victims forward to co-operate with the police.
The rape incident that have been making headline, generating worldwide attention, is expected to be resolved as police will be able to interview the victims in the presence of NGO and PKR leaders.
PKR leaders, particularly Zuraida has been very vocal about the issue but refused to co-operate with the police until she was summoned to Kuching today.
Sarawak police effort to investigate the case were always failed because none of the victims ever coming forward, or help them nail the culprit.
Zuraida met with State Head CID Senior Assistant Commissioner, Huzir Mohd continued to be in denial when asked by reporters prior to the meeting citing that she could not understand why she was being called here.
“Maybe I have spoken extensively on the Penan rape issue calling for justice as it seems that those in authority refused to do anything about the rape,” she said.
A book by NGO Taskforce “A wilder context of sexual exploitation of Penan Women and girls in Middle and Ulu Baram Sarawak was published last month in which it stated that there were eight new cases of Penan rape victims.
Zuraida said the Police which is the authority to do the investigation appeared to have a lackadaisical attitude. She said she would meet with Huzir and then asked him why the police were not taking appropriate action.
Before her arrival, a group of female NGOs, PKR members and DAP State Assemblywoman, Violet Yong waited at the shophouse across the Sarawak police headquarters.
The group also wear white ribbons on their protest against violence on women.
Zuraida said during the last visit to Sarawak the Minister of Woman’s Affair, Shahrizat Jalil, said the Minister in charge of Women affairs did not even meet the Penans.
“I heard she was at the resort. And yesterday the Prime Minister also came to Miri to show you Sarawakians that they care. And what did he do, announced a RM100 million for infrastructure but never talk on the issues of Penan’s plights,” she said.
A number of police Kuching Division and Sarawak Headquarters were stationed at the Jalan Badaruddin. Words was it that the police heard that the group was to demonstrate in front of the police headquarters before meeting Huzir.
However, there were no demonstration but the group of about 100 holding the placards condemning the rape of Penans and shouted “Refomasi”.
Zuraida later led the group by walking into the police station to meet Huzir for about an hour.
After the meeting, Huzir said Zuraida had agreed to make an official police report on the rape and has her statement recorded.
He said police had gone to Ulu Baram to investigate the matter but not much was being done as the victims did not come forward.
He said after meeting Zuraida and the NGO, they have agreed to help by asking the victims to be interviewed by the police.
“I will send a team of investigation officer to the Ulu Baram again next week,” he added saying that the NGOs has agreed to be there too with the victims.
