I was shocked reading this piece of news in NST this morning
“In a move to stop Malaysian women being duped into carrying drugs for international syndicates, the Foreign Ministry has proposed that all women travelling out of the country alone be required to have a letter from parents or employers. “
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the letter would be a declaration which stated clearly the reason the woman was travelling.
from NST: There are 119 Malaysian women in prisons worldwide for drug offences; the majority are aged between 21 and 27 duped into becoming ‘mules’; and so far this year, 29 have been detained or imprisoned
There is another piece of news in the same paper:
Regressive. Unfair. Biased.
These were some of the words used to describe the proposal by the Foreign Ministry that women leaving the country alone be required to have declarations from parents or employers stating the reason for their travels.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said yesterday he had submitted a proposal to the cabinet.
The proposal drew flak from non-governmental and women’s organisations, with their representatives making clear their outrage.
National Council for Women’s Organisations Malaysia (NCWO) deputy president Faridah Khalid called the proposal “backward and unfair”.
“This is an infringement of our rights,” she said.
The first thing that comes to my mind is that this is gross discrimination against women, which forms more than half the population.
It is like amputating the whole leg for a small boil on the tip of the toe. There is no logic.
I don’t like to be rude, but is it not akin to asking the police to castrate all males just because of a few rape cases?
The English will say, never use a sledgehammer to kill a fly.
How many women travelling overseas are involved in vice? Most would be legitimate travellers.
This is how someone who is brought up with a biased view against women would do. And I am supprised that this comes from an experienced Minister.
Socially, this is not acceptable, when the whole world, with the exception of some countries, is now going towards equality of the sexes.
Politically, this is a disaster. He should know that there would be an uproar from women groups.
Why has UMNO people not learned from the lesson of March 8?
Policies should be people orientated and should not be an encumbrance to people. The people are your boss, Dear Minister. Always look from the angle of the people, not from the top of the ivory tower where the view tends to be narrow and clouded by clouds.
If government ministers keep going like this, sooner or later, there will be so much red tapes, you have to have a police permit to go out after midnight, because the minister in charge will argue that most crime is committed at night.
See the logic, Dear Minister?
May 5, 2008 at 1:58 pm |
Yes dear Mr Minister we are quite capable of taking care of ourselves when travelling alone. We certainly do not need a man to tell us to seek permission from our family or employer when we go travelling. How many in fact will travel alone except when it is unavoidable. Advice can be given but not in this authoritative manner to the extent of proposing in Parliament. Obviously your hidden agenda is clear. Please talk about other things and leave this to the parents if not the Minister of Women’s affairs. As usual the victim especially when she is a female is always to be blamed. What actions can the Government take to prevent such crimes? I am sure our dear Minister who is also an established lawyer can propose a logical move to prevent such crimes for e.g enforce a stricter and more efficient anti crime system . Help the women folks and not control them . Respect them and not under estimate thyem. Your proposal is indeed preposterous!