“To me the report is malicious, degrading and an insult to the Penan and the native communities.” Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said the story by Metro Ahad stating that the Penans practise incest and marry immediate family members is only an assumption and a ‘sensationalised’ piece of news.
He said he did not believe the news, adding that it was only a game of certain non-governmental organisations (NGOs) out to manipulate the Penans.
“The news is only an assumption, and I don’t rely on assumption,” he said when met at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) lobby yesterday.
He called for a full investigation into the report to determine if there were elements of criminality.
The Minister of Rural Development pointed out that there were still people and NGOs who would not accept what the government had done to help the Penan.
He said the Penan were receptive to development, but there were small groups being manipulated by certain NGOs.
Asked whether the Penan community should send a protest to the newspaper, Jabu said it was up to the community.
“To me the report is malicious, degrading and an insult to the Penan and the native communities,” he said in his SMS.
He pointed out that even if the case had any truth, it was an isolated case which should be investigated by the authorities.
“Cases of incest occur among all races in the world and I am sure the Penan are not excluded too,” he opined.
Stating that he was unsure of the source of the report, Abdul Karim pointed out that he could not believe that civilised human would resort to what the Metro reporter claimed.
He stressed that the Penan has a civilised custom inherited from their forefathers.
The Assistant Housing Minister said the government was helping the nomadic Penan and bring them into mainstream of society.
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