Women's groups express outrage
KUALA LUMPUR: 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.
Image stolen from The Teacher by Bruce Morgan.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.
"We're the victims and now you're creating more problems.
"Why must you put more restrictions on women?
Yeah, why? You should be investigating why those women were too easily manipulated. A simply too good to be refused offer or are there darker and more sinister reasons behind those breaking news.
Were they being intimidated?
Were they being blackmailed here in Malaysia?
By Malaysians? International rings?
Is the problem serious? How big is the real picture?
How can we protect these girls better?
How can we make our country safer?
Faridah said the government should think it out properly before taking such measures.
Methinks, thinking is too straining an exercise for some. And time consuming. They got ribbon cuttings to attend to. They have to meet their ever demanding voters in their constituencies. They have to fight for projects too. Not for personal gain mind you. All for their constituencies.
Yeah.
"Sometimes, ministers make suggestions and decisions in haste," she said.
And sometimes, ministers make a complete turnaround on their suggestions and decisions in haste too.
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