Unearthing a can of worms is never a pleasant sight. Ditto the case with our laws that while trying to mete out justice, fail to live up to the true meaning of the word "justice".

Of late, much hoopla has been taking place in the local newspapers, almost all of whom have gone to town with reports of one form or another on the rape issue.

Seeking justice is never an easy endeavour, and being able to see justice prevail is yet another formidable task. For it seems that while there are laws that seem to take rape perpetrators to task through the most severe punishment possible, it also appears that these very laws are "biased" towards high-profiled rape cases.

Should there be a rape case reported whereby a child of nine or 13 is raped by her stepfather or grandfather, the news is no doubt read with disgust. But that is it. The social and moral obligation fails to surface.

However, if the same child is raped and murdered, then it makes national news. Now, when do we decide to show empathy to rape victims? Is murder what it takes to rile us up?

The very same sentiments that the public is now displaying after the rape and murder of two young girls smacks of hypocrisy. Why not show that same intolerance towards a perpetrator who has raped a child or a woman, but has stopped short of committing murder.

Crime sells

While the media deserves some credit for "sensationalising" the issue, for harping on it until justice is served and life is back to normal (whatever that means to each one of us), it is also this same media that often times fails to perform judiciously in its efforts to educate and create awareness among the masses.

If crime sells and it does, as editors keep reminding reporters, there should also be a distinction made on just how much of crime the media is out to sell and simply what amount the layman can accept.

It is the media which when most needed fails to exhibit its "sensitivity" through its coverage of crimes like rape. Newspapers are saturated with horrifying crime stories and it seems that this part of the newspaper business will never cease.

Yet, the onus lies very much with the media big-wigs to not just 'sell' high-profiled crime stories like rape and murders but to also reach out to the plight of the woman or teenage girl who has time and again been raped by her family member or relative.

The cry over rape is shamelessly propounded by the media through its 'ranking' of such a crime. While we know that there are various degrees of crimes, the fact remains that a crime has happened and that itself should be the clarion call for quick action.

Not a day goes by when there are no rape cases reported in the newspapers. But yet, the media and the government agencies appear to react only in the worst possible scenario. They forget the wise phrase that 'prevention is better than cure'.

Glaring holes

The law is in place yet there are some glaring 'holes' that need to be addressed. For instance, the existing law has only one definition of rape and that is the penile penetration of the vagina. There has been no utterance by the government of wanting to give this definition a second look to re-define 'rape' under the law. There are no provisions made under the law to recognise gang-rape as aggravated rape. Gang rape is rape and the extent of punishment meted out to the perpetrators rests heavily on the shoulders of the judge concerned.

Why does the media not go to town with the obvious 'handicap' of the law relating to rape? Why not hanker about the need to have a law which is all encompassing and serves to its highest form?

Let us not get all worked up when we read about the rape and murder of a child. Let us pledge our support to ensure justice sees the light of day each time a rape case is reported by the newspapers.

In tackling the rape issue, we have to be not only objective but also rational. Make it a personal crusade to do your bit to make a difference. For instance, form vigilante groups in your neighbourhood.

Drop the typical Malaysian mentality of 'it's not my business' and get serious about the issue at hand.

JJ RAY started her career with a mainstream publication. A non-conformist, she soon saw the barriers that went up whenever, through her writing, she tried to make the world a home for one and all.