Bukit Aman police today recorded a statement from Penan Support Group (PSG) member John Liu on a fact-finding mission carried out by the PSG.

Its findings were released in report titled A Wider Context of Sexual Exploitation of Penan Women and Girls in Middle and Ulu Baram, Sarawak, Malaysia, which was published earlier this year.

The report reveals incidents of exploitation of Penan women by loggers, which the Sarawak authorities have ignored despite reports made.

"This exercise of the federal police questioning me is another NONE attempt to shoot the messenger," Liu ( right ) said after his statement was recorded, as a witness under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Liu, who spent about one hour giving the statement, said those who questioned him appeared not to have read the report on the sexual expolitation of the Penan women and girls because he was asked about issues and facts that had been made public.

"We had already given the police officers two copies to read," he told reporters.

Liu called for a Royal Commission to be set up, based on the findings NONE in the report and to act on the wider social consequences of the continued exploitation of the Penans.

One of his lawyers, Andrew Khoo, said the police asked Liu 23 questions that were put forward by the CID in Sarawak.

"Most of the answers can be found in the report. It seems like they (Sarawak police) are trying to delay the investigation when they should be investigating the logging companies," Khoo said.

However, the lawyer was not sure if an investigation was going on, since the officers did not produce the original police report that was lodged.

"I think the federal police should just go in and investigate," he said adding that this would speed up the process.

Police trying to intimidate PSG

Former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said calling in the PSG members for questioning was tantamount to intimidation of those who wanted to expose the truth behind the atrocities faced by the Penans.

"This (sexual exploitation of the Penans) is not something new. But now, it looks like they (the police) are after the support group," she said.

Ambiga ( below, second from right ) said a wider study should be conducted on the indigenous people so that there would be a better understanding of their lives.

NONE "People in power have proven they do not understand the issues the orang asli are concerned about . We do not have a comprehensive understanding of their culture, of their way of life and of their vulnerabilities.

"I think only a Royal Commission studying all aspects of the orang asli and orang asal will be able to solve their problems," she added.

Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) executive director Ivy Josiah ( right in picture above ) pointed out flaws in the system that prevented the Penan from reporting sexual abuse despite repeated calls for them to come forward.

"There are two major problems the Penan face. One is they live in very remote areas, with no access to transport or to a police station.

ivy josiah interview 051208 4 "Secondly, they are afraid of the police. Perhaps the question to ask is, why are they afraid of the police?"

The government should look into giving the Penan greater access, not just in terms of the transportation but also for their medical and education needs and to justice, Josiah added.