One word best describes my feelings about Friday’s headlines about the Penans.

Disgust.

About a year ago, when the story was first reported in the national dailies, I wrote to stress the importance of discretion and sensitivity in solving the allegation of rape in the Penan community.

A year has passed, and the whole nation must be shaking its head in disbelief to discover that the matter remains unresolved.

I can understand the need for a special report to be commissioned to record statements, witness accounts and other necessary information.

However, it is despicable that the police have claimed that they are unable to make any arrests because they needed detailed and specific information from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

It is equally despicable that some politicians are happy to treat this shameful incident as a political football.

Is it not bad enough that these children (for that is what some of them still are), and the young women, have suffered? And now it is suggested that the police are unable to act ‘for lack of information”?

Where is their sensitivity and discretion in dealing with traumatised rape victims?

Some may never recover from their ordeal. All will have horrific memories of the rape. A few will have to live with the consequences of an unwanted child. Possibly even disease.

The cost of bringing up a child, both emotionally and financially, is thrust on their little shoulders. For those who had dreams and aspirations of furthering their education or of helping their community, these will have to be set aside.

Added to this will be the shame, the guilt and the feelings of anger and sadness. All of them will be emotionally scarred. All of these sentiments extend to their families and communities.

The Penans live in isolated communities in the Borneo rainforest. If they had easy access to medical facilities, it might have been possible to arrange a termination. However, we cannot assume that they would have accepted this procedure because their culture may view the life of an unborn child differently. And possibly their strong religious views may preclude this option.

So, just because their way of life is different from ours, does not make them less deserving of our compassion, police investigation or even justice.

The special report commissioned by Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has been made available to the public. Names of the logging companies involved have been noted. Further follow-up investigations should commence immediately by the police.

When the police asked the logging companies to provide transport, because they ostensibly lacked funds, the Penans probably wondered it there was any complicity between the two.

The army or rangers could have assisted in providing transport, rather than the logging companies.

To engage with the Penans may be difficult for the police. If the level of mistrust is so entrenched, why can’t the services of the various missionaries in the area be called upon?

Problems faced by these isolated Penan communities should not be an excuse for us to drag them into urban dwellings, or what we term civilisation. The modern world and all its inherent deleterious effects are already destroying their way of life. They have already indicated that they will modernise but that they will accept development at their own pace. And we should respect their wishes. However, as Malaysians they deserve the same rights as any other urban Malaysians.

The Penan communities are isolated and small and they fear retributions and reprisals. It is crucial that confidentiality and protection for the victims and their communities be provided.

Logging companies are rich, powerful and well-connected with influence that is more extensive than is thought possible.

Rape is, and has been, systematically used, by some as a weapon of control, subjugation and coercion.

I do not think that should be allowed to happen. Henceforth, we must not fail them again.

Malaysia has recently been seen in a bad light, so don’t let this crime be repeated. Let us show the world that we have the dignity and dedication to help all our people.