They Are Humans Too

Was reading the report about the court’s decision on the Nirmala Bonat’s case.

Ref: Malaysiakini @ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/93821

Bout 5 years ago, pictures of Nirmala’s severely scarred body were plastered across newspapers headline. It was alleged that her employer (she was an Indonesian working as a domestic helper) abused her by pressing a hot iron against her body and splashing hot water on her.

Today, the court found the defendant (the employer) guilty, and she was sentenced to 18 years of jail. That’s a pretty severe sentence eh?

Yes, it's the same person!

In Malaysia, it’s common for people to hire foreign people, especially Indonesian as domestic helpers (or maids as they are more fondly known as), constructions workers, restaurant helpers, etc, mainly because of their cheap wages.

In fact, read in the infamous Dr. Chua Soi Lek’s blog that about 20% of the Malaysian workforce is made up of foreigners. We’re been depending far too much and far too long on foreigners to fill up these “dirty” and “undesirable” jobs that nobody else wants a hand in. It would be difficult to undo this heavily rooted dependency, unless a long-term policy is made to gradually reduce the amount of foreign workers.

Getting back to Nirmala’s case. Can somewhat relate to the case, because my mom employs domestic helpers in her childcare business.

Most employers, especially those of the older generation, see these foreign workers (especially maids) as of a lower class than them. The employers are the tuans, and the maids are the servants. They do not see these people as humans, but instead as tool, whose purpose is to work and nothing more.

They employers feel that they’re of the more superior, and fail to realize that the Indonesians have feelings and needs as well; that they need rest, leisure and have the right to be treated respectfully.

True, some of them are nuisances whom escalate crime and diseases. But that is no reason to have such prejudice and adverse stereotype towards the rest of their counterparts whom are here to earn an honest living.

Often in Malaysia, we complain about racial inequality and discrimination. But how different are we if we continue perceiving these foreign workers as people of a lower class?