NGO urges government aid to poor family living in fear after rape bid

TUARAN - As the Malay proverb says, "Sudah Jatuh Ditimpa Tangga" meaning having been struck down by a tragedy, but before one can begin to recover, one is struck down by another bad tragedy, an expression of the life of a poor family in Kampung Bombong Tuaran.

With barely enough to make ends meet, the family who lives in fear since a daughter was molested in one occasion and attempted rape in another.

A Sabah NGO called Solidarity Youth Sabah (Solidariti Belia Sabah) upon hearing the plight visited the family to find out the real situation on the 28th of March 2015.

The victim's mother, Zahani Binti Che Ngah, who originally came from Terengganu, said  her 11-year-old daughter, escaped a rape attempt by a foreigner in June 2014. Fortunately, her cry for help was heard by a passer-by and the would-be-rapist fled immediately.

The second time happened in March 2015 when the victim was dragged out of her house and into the forest by the same attacker with the intention to rape her.

The tearful and emotional victim's mother said that her daughter was punched, kicked and even beaten with a wood when she refused to give in to the rapist's demands.
However, she was relieved that the rapist was arrested but the family is still traumatized by the incident.

According to Sabah Youth Solidarity (SBS), Zahani's house was not visible from the main road. The small house measuring 10 feet by 16 feet was built like a shed from used construction materials that housed seven people living on a tiny budget.

Zahani and her husband who is a handicapped (OKU) said they are thankful their house was built by a sympathiser to whom they pay him bit by bit.

"If we have a little more money, we pay a bit, not knowing when we can settle the debt," she said.

Chairman of SBS, Stephan Gaiman, proposed to empower the family to apply for PPRT house but Zahani explained that she had already made application since 2010. She went to the offices concerned but did not get any answers and she felt the authorities were not attempting to take her case further.

Puan Zahani claimed that she voted for BN in the last election said, "tak adalah agaknya tu, nak tunggu sampai bila?" (Seems not likely, have to wait until when?) apparently referring to the PPRT application.

Stephan Gaiman urged the Tuaran MP Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau and YB Datuk Haji Hajiji Mohd Noor as Assemblyman for Sulaman and Minister of Local Government and Housing Minister Sabah, as well as Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid as Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, which is responsible in case involving children and women should look into their plight and help the family concerned.