Malaysia's rapid development is the envy of many third world and developing countries. Herself once a third world nation, Malaysia is today hailed as a nation that has come of age.

While there is no denying the country's physical advancement, the same however cannot be said for its mental development, should we refer to the rising crime rates, especially acts of violence against women.

It is almost daily that newspapers report of a child or a woman being physically, verbally or sexually abused. Violence against women is a 'war' that has to be stopped at all costs. And one way of ensuring this is by putting in place the respective anti-violence mechanisms and laws.

To date, much has been said by the government about what should be done to make the society violence-free for women. Emitting just mere sympathy to the public when the nation is being wrecked with a barrage of criminal acts will not take the leaders far in winning the people's confidence if the emotions are not translated into aggressive measures to fight violence in our society.

The public, mysteriously, however remains hopeful that the current leadership under Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will show more heart towards combating the many forms of violence faced by women.

Laudable moves

And the recent announcement made by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil that the cabinet has directed the Attorney-General's Chambers to give priority to rape cases is seen as a harbinger towards a more safer environment for women.

Also, the fact that the cabinet wants deputy public prosecutors with more than three years' experience to handle rape cases reflects its seriousness in tackling issues of violence against women.

This decision by the cabinet's was prompted by its concern over the rise in the number of rape cases.

According to Shahrizat, in the first six months of this year there were 1, 497 cases of domestic violence, 908 rape cases, 851 molest cases, 161 incest cases, 97 sodomy cases, 64 child abuse cases and 35 maid abuse cases.

Sharizat also said the Attorney-General's Chambers together with six other government agencies have formed an inter-ministry committee to monitor the measures taken to address sex crimes.

Among others, the A-G chambers will look into stiffer penalties for rape offenders, study the definition of rape as well as the provision of the law to make sure rape complaints cannot be withdrawn and see to it that prosecution of rape cases are not delayed.

Shahrizat added that a national family policy will be drawn up and her ministry, together with the non-governmental organisations will set up a Rape Survivors Association to help victims and conduct campaigns to encourage women and children to learn self-defence skills.

This is all good news for the women folk. With this comes the expectations that the government will live up to its promise of making the environment safer for women and see to it that laws are just in meting punishment to rapists.

This move to give priority to rape cases is very much lauded. But then it comes at the expense of an extensive effort put in by the Anti-Rape Task Force, a set up whose members comprise representatives from various women's groups in the country.

Task force ignored

The task force spent over a year deliberating and drafting specific amendments to the Penal Code, Evidence Act and Criminal Procedure Code pertaining to rape.
The 'Memorandum on Laws Related to Rape' details comprehensively the legal amendments necessary to treat rape cases with the utmost seriousness.

A self-funded effort, the memorandum is a blue-print which makes it much easier for the government to study the necessary changes to laws on rape. Yet, despite it having been submitted to the Prime Minister's office last Nov, the A-G Chambers and Shahrizat, nothing has been said about this indefatigable effort by the Anti-Rape Task Force.

To-date, not a single word has been mentioned by either of these government agencies regarding this memorandum or to acknowledge the fact that the women's group had made a valuable contribution by way of helping pin-point the amendments that need to be made to laws pertaining to rape and providing justifications for the necessary amendments.

The memorandum states that amendment to Section 375 of the Penal Code in order to include a wider definition of rape can no longer be delayed. At present, the law stipulates rape as only penile penetration and does not recognise other forms of rape i.e. insertion of fingers or objects into the vagina.

The memorandum also highlights the need to have an additional Section to the Penal Code to include aggravated rape as yet another form of rape and that appropriate penalty be meted out to perpetrators of such acts. Aggravated rape is defined in the memorandum as gang rape, rape of disabled women and marital rape.

Beware of the ego-trap

It is hoped that Shahrizat and her fellow ministers do not fall into the ego-trap of wanting to stay one step ahead of the efforts made by the women's groups. Instead of clamouring to win praises for their so-called avant-garde approach to fighting crimes like rape, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry in particular and the other ministries in general should be humble enough in accepting any assistance rendered by women's groups.

No efforts made by women's NGOs should be dismissed on the basis that their voices are too insignificant to make a difference.

One way for the ministries to prove that there is no place for ego-trap in their midst is by acknowledging the efforts made by the women's groups. And in this case it would be to accept the important contributions made by the Anti-Rape Task Force.

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.