When the outrage of a woman's modesty is deemed as 'exaggeration' it is a very clear sign that rape as an act of violence against women is not viewed seriously.

One such example of not understanding the anguish of rape survivors was displayed by the Sarawak women and family council chairperson Fatimah Abdullah who recently stated that the Penan issue was highlighted and over-exaggerated because of its "political and commercial value".

Fatimah was quoted by The Borneo Post as saying that if the issue involved other ethnic groups like the Melanaus or Ibans, it would have a slim chance of being picked up as an issue to be used against the government.

She added that the Penan issue was a sensitive matter and should be dealt with carefully, 'looking at things in the right context'.

Fatimah's inability to relate to the issue of rape is baffling. Instead, her concern is that the opposition must not use the Penan issue as ammunition to attack the Barisan Nasional government.

May I ask Fatimah in her capacity as a woman how she views the issue of rape? Does she play the blame game: putting the blame on the survivor for inciting rape?

Can Fatimah care to explain what "political and commercial value" the rape of Penan women has?

And under what assurance is she saying that the rape issue would have gone unnoticed if it involved other ethnic groups besides the Penan? Here, she is making the assumption that rape of women from other tribal groups will not be highlighted because there is no 'political and commercial value'?

Rape is rape, regardless of which ethnic or tribal group it involves. It is people like Fatimah who are politicising the issue as a political agenda.

It is very shameful that as a woman Fatimah has failed to understand the fundamentals behind the issue of rape. This being the case, it is then a waste of time trying to educate the likes of her on the essence of the Beijing Platform or the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) or for that matter the fundamentals of human rights.