While some malaysiakini readers have expressed understanding or passive support of the police for rejecting All Action Women's Society's application for a permit to hold an anti-rape rally , I for one am baffled as to the reasoning.

As an overseas Malaysian reader of malaysiakini , I may not be fully aware of the public issues that are so sensitive, and that would not be in the nation's interest to have them vented in public.

It appears to me however that rape, which is probably one of the most heinous crimes of aggression that is for the most part specifically directed against women, is of sufficient concern to all Malaysians - to women who are its direct victims, as well as to men who are directly affected by the suffering of a loved one, mother, daughter, sister, wife or just a friend or relative.

Not only should it be discussed openly, there should be awareness at all levels, from the schoolchild to the adult, as to its implications. If ever there were a subject that directly affected our daily lives, and which ought to be discussed openly time and again by all sectors of the population, it is this sort of person-centred aggression targeted against women.

It is necessary for women to be aware of all the factors that lead to their being singled out for sexual aggression, it is essential for children to learn early on in life about the existence and dangers of rape, and it is important for all sections of society to learn how to tackle the psychological sequels to this most abominable threat to a woman's privacy.

Furthermore, this proposed awareness meeting stems from a most publicised sexual aggression that led to the murder of the victim. Not only should the police have unreservedly approved this rally, police officers specialised in handling rape and its aftermath should have been in the frontline among the speakers, to counsel the public and to give whatever positive advice they can.

Instead, the decision of the police to deny the organisers a permit gives me the impression that not only do they have nothing to contribute in terms of protecting rape victims, but also that this dereliction of duty hides more sinister reasons such as a possible involvement of highly-placed persons, perhaps within the force itself, in the perpetration of one or more such crimes.

If such be the case, the force is not the citizens' source of protection as it is meant to be, but rather the contrary. I do hope that our police force is at least dedicated enough to protect the most vulnerable sections of our population against the aggressive intent of a minority.

For starters, at least let the police permit women to talk about it. And I fervently hope that other men like me will unequivocally voice their concern about the indifference that such crimes seems to generate.