Transmenu powered by JoomlArt.com - Mambo Joomla Professional Templates Club

KUALA LUMPUR: A royal commission should be set up to look into the allegations of sexual abuse and rape of Penan women in Sarawak, said an Opposition MP.

Zuraida Kamaruddin said she had submitted a notice to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s office yesterday calling for a debate on the issue today.

She said the commission was relevant in light of a scheduled visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the Penan community in Miri division’s Ulu Baram on July 22.

“A committee set up by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to look into the allegations in 2009 has confirmed that several Penan women and girls suffered sexual abuse.

“A report on July 7 also revealed fresh abuse allegations by Penan women in Baram Tengah and Ulu Baram,” she said, adding no one had been charged for the crime.

Last week, the Penan Support Group, made up of 36 non-governmental organisations, had released its latest report in Parliament lobby revealing the testimony of seven more Penan women who claimed they were raped or sexually abused.