A DAP leader today urged Womens and Family Development Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil to find out why police lack the interest and enthusiasm to solving rape cases and sex-related crimes.

DAP publicity bureau secretary Gobind Singh Deo said it is not enough for Sharizat to take the police force to task for being lackadaisical and hope that they will change.

The minister must give the police a chance to air their problems too, and an effort must be made to resolve these problems, said Gobind in a press statement.

According to him, the main problem behind polices lack of interest in solving these crimes is the lack of incentives for them in the form of salaries and facilities.

He suggested that authorities should study the reasons behind the problems so that the weaknesses of the police force may be addressed.

Unless this is done, it will further discourage crime victims from further pursuing the matter and this will ultimately translate into unresolved cases, added Gobind.

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Sharizat was quoted in the newspapers today as saying that police should give priority to solving rape cases as the number was high compared to other cases solved.

The victims have been traumatised enough by these life-threatening situations and the culprits should be brought to justice fast and given a harsh sentence, she reportedly said.

She added that it is important for police to view these crimes seriously to curb the rising incidents of violence against women.

According to the minister, a total of 1,354 rape cases were reported last year - an average of four cases a day- compared to 1,210 in 2000 and 1,457 in 1999.