The proposal to bring in domestic help from China has triggered strong opposition from women leaders of Chinese-based parties in the Barisan Nasional and the DAP who fear that Chinese nationals might wreck Malaysian families.
“There is distrust of Chinese nationals among the local Chinese community as even now there are many broken marriages because of mainland Chinese women,” DAP leader Teresa Kok said.
The Seputeh MP suggested the Government look into providing more childcare centres for working women, saying “if we have enough childcare centres, it would help tackle the problem of maid shortage.”
Wanita MCA chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen has already voiced the movement’s objection to the proposal, saying that Chinese nationals would cause social problems.
Last week, Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said Malaysia was considering getting domestic maids from China and India to alleviate a shortage in supply from Indonesia and the Philippines.
Agensi Pekerjaan Teletemps Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd manager Jeffrey Lai said he did not think that the Malaysian community would accept China maids due to existing social problems.
“I would rather see maids brought in from Vietnam or Myanmar as they are less problematic,” he said.
Penang Wanita Gerakan head Ng Siew Lai said the movement was against the government’s proposal, adding “it is not a good idea based on our experience. We have been getting daily complaints to the extent that we cannot resolve the existing problems.”
Ng said some housewives had complained that their husbands were spending too much time in karaoke lounges and pubs that employed Chinese nationals.
“Their marriages are breaking up because some of the men have taken these women as their mistresses,” she said, adding that 80% of the employers of domestic maids in the country were Malaysian Chinese.
In contrast, Penang-based Women Centre for Change executive director Loh Cheng Kooi said the nationality of the foreign maid should not matter while Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng said there should not be any “prejudice and discrimination” against Chinese nationals. — Star
not all mainlanders are gold diggers and home breakers but unfortunately, the reputation of a few carries the image of the nation. Malaysian chinese men will find most of them interestitng and enticing, unfortunately. Foryours truly, just thinking of the baggage that comes along will deter me from ever getting involved with any one of ’em……cultural differences, immigration issues, suppressed materialism for decades etc….
My argument is why is our nation is so desperate for maids? We are draining the countries’ money away. In US, UK, Australia etc, nations with greater productivity than us do not seem to have such a great demand for maids.
The answer is that they have a better working culture and better family support system
1) well run old folks home for old people
2) child care centre
3) emphasis on work life balance
4) social pension system that does not require people to save like mad before they retire
5) DIY culture
I rather pay more taxes to get the above, rather than have my money flow out of the country but then again, if you see how our tax money is being spend around the country and the parliment alone…..sigh!
Lee wee tak has a very thoughful post, and I agree with him wholeheartedly, except for his last sentence. Paying more taxes??? You realise what the Govt did recently? Raise civil servants wages! All of a sudden a few billion of our RM have gone to absolute waste. I have govt servant friends who are really laughing.. doing the same stuff, and getiing more money. One question, has the ‘tea drinking’ habit been abolished now that more work has to be seen to be done? look at the leaking putrajaya buildings and the new court building? Among many many things…. And the airport taxi service! Ugh!!!
hi mate,
did you notice the words “but then again” and “sigh”?
I am writing with my name in a public domain, which require me to be thoughtful, sensitive, diplomatic, as intelligent as I can …..
have a teh tarik with me then you can a more saucey version….hahahaha…
I have dealt with Singaporean and Hong Kong government officials…the gap between theirs and ours….I need not go tto Grand Canyon in the US
Hi,
Yes, I saw the “sign” AFTER I hit “submit comment” (“,) .I have dealt with Pilipino politicians, and I think our MPs are catching up in terms of thick face and corruptibility standards! But I think they surely lack behind the Pinoy counterparts, in their oratory skills… Pinoys can talk a vulture into eating its own mother…. heheheh Beer is better than teh tarik!!!