PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA - The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will investigate claims of timber workers sexually abusing Penan women and girls.

Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said she had instructed the womens affairs director-general to meet Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and obtain more information after the Hari Raya holidays.

"We are very concerned about the matter," she said.

"I have also talked to the Health Ministry to do something as we want to ensure the health of the Penans has not been compromised."

Alfred, who is also the chairman of the steering committee on the Penans, had dismissed the sexual abuse claims, saying he had not heard about such complaints from the tribe's community leaders.

Dr Ng was responding to Suhakam commissioner for Sarawak, Dr Mohd Hirman Ritom, who said on Tuesday it would investigate the sexual abuse claims.

Suhakam commissioner Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria had urged the ministry and federal police to look into the matter since the Sarawak police said that they could not investigate as there was no official report.

The claims of abuse first surfaced on the Bruno Manser Fund website.