S’wak to study root causes of incest

State to conduct profiling exercise on perpetrators and come up with action plan

Sarawak will conduct a profiling exercise on perpetrators in incest cases to find out the root causes of the problem and come up with an action plan.

State Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said Sarawak’s Social Development Council and One-Stop Crisis Centre committee would start the exercise this week.

They will complete it in November.

“We’re trying to understand the root causes of incest. For instance, we’ll look at the age of the perpetrators, their environment – perhaps there are no proper bedrooms in the house – as well as their behavioural patterns and emotional factors,” she told reporters after chairing a meeting of the Sarawak Women and Family Council here yesterday.

Describing incest as a “heinous crime”, she said 15 cases were reported in Sarawak as of Sept 6 this year, compared to 13 last year, 21 in 2015, 14 in 2014 and 16 in 2013.

According to police statistics, the perpetrators this year comprised eight fathers, two stepfathers, three grandfathers, two brothers and four uncles, with their ages ranging from 19 to 59.

Fatimah said the profile findings would be discussed in an inter-agency laboratory session, which would then draw up a structured and coordinated action plan.

The lab will involve relevant government agencies including the police and Prisons Department, NGOs such as Sarawak Women for Women Society, community leaders, elected representatives, school counsellors and parent-teacher associations.

“We will also distribute flyers to create awareness among the target groups – students, school counsellors and parents.

“In addition, we will hold ‘training the trainers’ sessions to conduct awareness programmes around the state. Since statistics show that incest cuts across ethnic lines and occurs in urban and rural areas, we want to expand our outreach,” Fatimah said.

She also urged victims not to suffer in silence but to come forward and lodge reports.

“The police have assured us that they will arrest the perpetrator on the same day the report is lodged and that the suspect will be charged in court before the end of the remand period.

“This will give the victims confidence that police will take swift action,” she said, adding that nine of the 15 cases this year had been closed, with the rest of the suspects waiting to be charged.