Malaysians must stop eroding our national reputation
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?
By J. D. Lovrenciear
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 leagues of developed world given its much publicized 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 us into the lowest pits of national image and lost-integrity. Forget about the international index on transparency and accountability for a 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 labor involving the plantation and construction industry?
- How do we continue to treat the cleaners and restaurant workers that we are bringing in by the hordes from neighboring countries?
- We are not yet 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 counter suits against personalities especially involving leading politicians.
- What about scandalous suits that reek with sexual abuse.
- The political dark clouds that we are fanning with 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 labor 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 abuses are isolated cases and that the vast majority of the country folks treat their workers with dignity.
It is time we learned to stop treating the media-world and citizens as fools. Unless and until we wake to realize that we are all party to the damaged national reputation and until the time when we have to punish those who faulted irrespective of status and position, we are certain to be doomed into a perilous point of no-return national image.
