Justice is dead in Malaysia! This I say after witnessing how indifferently the authorities have acted in handling the cries of rape by the Penan women.

There has been no effort by the authorities in ensuring that there is justice for the rape victims.

Instead, all tongues, including that of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Jalil are eerily quiet.

The claims by the Penan women that they have been raped by workers of a logging company are not new, with sexual abuse against these women taking place since 1994 when a 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped by the Police Field Force (now called General Operations Force) personnel.

Typically, this criminal act was quickly dismissed by the police.

Some of the complainants were said to have become pregnant as a result of the rape and yet this abuse was not deemed serious enough to ensure that native women's rights were not trampled upon by outsiders.

The police' approach towards helping these women has caused a dent in the confidence level the public has for the police force.
Just as frustrating is the inability of Malaysia's Human Rights Commission or Suhakam to intervene and seek justice for the violation of rights of the Penan women.

In 2000, a report was lodged with Suhakam, but like in many cases, no action was taken necessary by the human rights commission.

All that is evident is that be it Suhakam, the police or the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, did nothing to assist the Penan women.

Eyes are shut to a heinous crime like rape. How dare both Suhakam and the government show no concern in saving women from being raped, time and again!

This clearly shows that to Suhakam and the government, rape is not a serious issue and they will do nothing to ensure the human rights of women in this country is safeguarded.

Mouth shut tight

When the former Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen dispatched a task force to Sarawak to investigate the rape claims with the hope for some justice to take place.

Sadly, the task force returned with its mouth shut tight, not uttering a word on its findings.

And now with Shahrizat Jalil having returned to take over the portfolio from Ng, it was hoped she would go the extra mile in going all out to fight for the Penan women's rights.

But Shahrizat turned out to be predictable as always, playing to a safe audience.

What is stopping Shahrizat from declaring the findings of the task force? Why has the task force been restricted from telling the truth?

Zuraida Kamaruddin, the PKR Member of Parliament for Ampang recently called on the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to publicise the report on the sexual violence against the Penan women.

Zuraida, who is PKR's Wanita chief said: "The first report on the matter was published in September last year by the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) based in Switzerland, and claimed that the Penan Task Force Report was only submitted to the Cabinet on May 27 this year."

Why is the issue of abuse against women not taken seriously in Malaysia?

Why must there be such secrecy each time investigations into an abuse case is launched?

The truth is that in the case of the Penan women, the perpetrators are working for big timber companies.

Otherwise, how does one comprehend the fact that the cries of the Penan women have conveniently gone unheard?

Stop playing games

In spite of the games played by the authorities, one must realise that there is only so much nonsense the people will put up with.

It is baffling to see the reluctance of the authorities and the Women, Family and Community Development's Ministry in taking the culprits to court and making sure the women receive justice.

When the United States blacklisted Malaysia for its failure to combat human trafficking, the country's politicians were upset and wasted no time in making excusues why the censure was uncalled for?

But when the issue involves rape, there is always little interest shown by everyone.

The mainstream newspapers are not interested and the so-called activists and bloggers are the least concerned.

And you can forget about the new breed of young women politicians who show no passion for women's issues.

Can all those involved in looking after the welfare of women in the country stop playing games and do an honest day's work?

Is this is asking for much?