Foreign and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) making the latest allegations of rape being committed on Penan students and teenagers in the Ulu Baram area, Miri Division, should report them.

alfred jabuMore importantly, they should substantiate their allegations for the police to start investigating the matter, said Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu.

He told a press conference here today that similar allegations were made last year but without much proof.

"We are open. Give us the proof... we will investigate," he said.

Earlier, Jabu represented Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud in officiating at the third graduation ceremony of Mukah Polytechnic where he presented diplomas and certificates to 398 graduands.

"We have about 16,000 Penans in the state. Less than 400 are still nomadic and following their traditional way of live. The 97 per cent have settled down," he said.

'They may be jealous'

Jabu said he feared the NGOs were making use of this small minority group who were less educated to discredit the government to suit their own agendas.

NONE"They may be jealous of the country's progress... our success in the oil palm plantation industry, making us the world's largest producer and exporter of palm oil."

Jabu said he had 40 years of exprience in dealing with the Penans, adding that the majority of them clearly supported the government.

"The government, in turn, has never neglected their welfare. It has built schools in their areas, basic infrastructure and other amenities.

"We now have about 26 Penan graduates. I'm sure in the future more Penans can benefit from tertiary education to become engineers, lawyers, scientists and businessmen who can then help the government fight the propaganda of these NGOs," he said.

Yesterday, state police commissioner Mohmad Salleh also called on the NGOs to provide proof for their allegations that seven more Penan teenagers and students had been raped.

- Bernama