By Desmond Davidson

KUCHING, MALAYSIA: Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu yesterday dismissed the claims of a Swiss non-governmental organisation that Penan women and girls were being sexually abused by workers from two logging companies.

Jabu said unless the Bruno Manser Fund could give details of their allegations, it would be a waste of time to investigate.

"Show proof. Tell us which Penan settlement.

"I have not heard of such complaints from the Penan community leaders in my many visits to Ulu Baram," said Jabu, who is the chairman of the steering committee on the Penans, after launching Ops Sikap XVII at Km19 of the Kuching-Serian Road.

BMF had posted the allegations on its website, claiming that the workers preyed on students who were in the settlement during school holidays.

It also claimed that the abuse had resulted in several pregnancies.

Jabu said if the NGO could provide evidence, then the police could take action.

He was also dismissive of BMF, labelling it a "bunch of people who are nothing in their own country but like to sensationalise events elsewhere".

Jabu urged the BMF and other NGOs not to paint a negative picture of Sarawak and to respect the truth.

"Hearsay and sweeping statements are unfair to Sarawak."

Meanwhile, on road accidents during the festive season, Jabu said Sarawak bucked the national trend.

Pointing to statistics during the Hari Raya period of Ops Sikap XI in 2006 and Ops Sikap XIII last year, Jabu said even though the number of accidents rose by 2.2 per cent, from 602 in 2006 to 615 in 2007, the number of fatal accidents dipped by 14.3 per cent, from 14 to 12.

The number of road deaths also dropped by 23.5 per cent from 17 in 2006 to 13 last year.

He urged road users to be vigilant when driving home for the festive celebration.