Stop eroding our national reputation over maids
JD Lovrenciear Jun 26, 09 5:08pm
The recent announcement by our Indonesian neighbors to stop sending their maids is a national disaster in terms of the reputation of Malaysia. And who do we blame for this dent on our armour of national dignity? And it is equally stupid and outrageous to counter with statements to the effect that 'If that be the case, we will get our ‘supplies’ from other countries'. Indeed, it is a shame that in this age and time we are still trapped in the gully of deciding whether an employee should be granted a mere one day off in a week. Should this not have been well granted and enforced by the government a long time ago? It makes no sense for a nation to want to join the league of the developed world - given its much publicised Wawasan 2020 - when we are dragging our conscience even in freely granting a work-free off day to workers. Presently, we are courting more disasters that will eventually drag our national image and integrity into the lowest pits of shame. Forget about the international index on transparency and accountability for the moment. Let us instead look at the abuses that we have been courting for far too long a time. How do continue to treat migrant labour involved in the plantation and construction industry? How do we continue to treat the cleaners and restaurant workers that we are bringing in by the plane-loads from neighboring countries?And we are not yet even talking about the slavery in the country and the exploits of the sex industry here. And on the home ground, too, let us admit honestly what we are embroiled with.Look at the law suits and countersuits against personalities especially those involving leading politicians.What about the scandalous suits that reek of sexual abuse? The political dark clouds that we are fanning rage across constituencies. What about some of the draconian laws that we still champion so feverishly? It is time to stop and confront in a collaborative spirit the damage that we as Malaysians are guilty of. Never mind whether you are a politician, an employer or a mere consumer of the services available as a result of the cheapened labour in the country. We are all collectively guilty for having a role in devastating the national reputation of this country. Given the extensive negative global publicity that has been raining on our beloved country, it is equally stupid to continue arguing that the reported labour abuses are isolated cases and that the vast majority of the country’s folks treat their workers with dignity. It is time we learned to stop treating the international media, the world and its citizens as fools. Unless and until we wake to realise that we are all party to the damaged national reputation and until the time when we punish those who are at fault irrespective of status and position, we are certain to be doomed to a perilous point of no-return with regards to our national image.