The Ugly Malaysian: Cambodian MP nixes Bukit Aman’s denial
October 18, 2011
The Ugly Malaysian: Cambodian MP nixes Bukit Aman’s denial
Mu Sochua says three maids from her country did die from abuse by their Malaysian employers.
Cambodian opposition MP Mu Sochua is challenging a statement by Bukit Aman that the reports about three Cambodian maids being abused to death are false.
Cambodian Ambassador HRH Princess Norodom Arunrasmy (left) recently disclosed that the embassy received daily complaints of abuse and that three maids had died within a week.
Mohd Bakri Zinin of the Bukit Aman Crime Investigation Department said yesterday that only two Cambodian deaths had been recorded since 2004 and that the two were male factory workers killed by compatriots.
But Sochua today rejected Bakri(right)’s statement and asserted that three Cambodian maids did die 
recently.“Cambodia’s Community Legal Education Centre is very much in touch with these cases,” she told FMT by email. “They have met family members and at least one was flown to Kuala Lumpur to identify her niece’s body.”
Sochua did not reveal the family’s identity, but she was probably referring to teenager Choy Phich, who was found dead at the back of her employer’s house in Penang on July 17.
Police ruled that the girl died of pneumonia, but Sochua has refused to believe this. On August 11, she arrived in Malaysia to seek the truth behind Choy Phich’s death and call for a freeze on the recruitment of Cambodian maids for Malaysia.
That call has been successful. Last weekend, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced a temporary ban on the export of maids to Malaysia.
For Sochua, a well-known figure in the Sam Rainsy Party and a former Women’s Affairs Minister, the ban is the triumph of a two-year battle that intensified in the last year as more distraught parents and reports of abuse turned up at her office.
She said she approached Hun Sen in Parliament last Friday during a coffee break and he immediately told her that he had heard her recommendations and supported them.
“He asked one of his deputies to call the Minister of Labour right there and then to issue a suspension of Cambodian maids to Malaysia,” she said.“I had reported to him cases of deaths, abuse, psychoses and separation from children. But he added his own concerns of exploitation by companies through publicity and recruitment.
“What Malaysia must do now is form an independent committee with the participation of NGOs to look into cases of death and abuse not just of Cambodian workers but of all migrant workers.”
Independent Committee
Responding to the Cambodian ban, Malaysian Foreign Minister, Anifah Aman, said Putrajaya would apologise to Cambodia if the allegations of abuse were proven. Human Resources Minister S Subramaniam said the government would contact Phnom Penh to try to have the ban rescinded.
Neither of these responses has been palatable for Sochua.“Many parents can testify and they want their loved ones to be honoured,” she said. “An apology is the least that can be done.With all due respect to Anifah, this is accountability. He must also form an independent committee because cases of death and rape cannot be dealt with through an apology. And I hope neither of them pushes for a reversal of the ban.”
Sochua (right) also hit out at the Malaysian Ambassador in Phnom Penh, Mohd Hussein Tahir
Nasruddin, for ignoring her letters to him on the issue.“I asked for a meeting and never got an answer,” she said. “This is pure lack of responsibility and arrogance, which must be corrected.”
She said Malaysia must do the following before Cambodia should even consider lifting the ban:
- Sign a memorandum of understanding based on the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 189.
- Putting in place a mechanism to end debt bondage
- Stop the practice of confiscating maids’ passports.
- Fully investigate and prosecute previous rape and abuse cases.
“Malaysia must fulfil its commitment to the human rights of migrant workers,” Sochua said. “Right now Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour is meeting with recruitment agencies, but there must also be input from NGOs and an immediate meeting with Malaysian officials.
“My biggest concern is the lack of political will in developing a memorandum of understanding that guarantees the rights and protection of Cambodian maids. Without that, corrupt officials will still be protected if they are part of the recruitment agencies.”
Her fear may already have come true. There have been reports that two labour recruitment companies sent at least 25 maids to Malaysia yesterday in defiance of the ban.
Sochua will return to Malaysia on November 8 to discuss protection issues for all migrant workers, in particular domestic workers.
“I want to get Malaysian officials, NGOs and parliamentarians to push for Malaysia to practice responsibility and accountability when it concerns migrant workers and human rights. I will be meeting some of the victims and I will be finding solutions,”she said
Isn’t the ambassador in Cambodia Anipah ‘s personal friend, and a political appointee. It shows how good such people are really.
__________
Yes, he is and has no diplomatic experience to speak of. I will put him in my back left pocket, having been in the foreign service myself (under the late Tun M. Ghazalie Shafie). When it comes to Cambodia, I lived there in Phnom Penh for half a decade and worked pro bono with Cambodia’s ASEAN project at the Cambodian Institute of Cooperation and Peace where I am still a Senior Research Fellow. I am also Adjunct Professor of Business at the University of Cambodia.
I read a lot about their culture and proud history, speak their language a little, and mix freely with ordinary Cambodians when I was living there. Diplomacy is hard work and it is not easy to represent our country. –Din Merican
Diplomaticwatcher - October 18, 2011 at 10:59 pm
We seem to have be having problems with Indonesia, Cambodia, Philippines and other ASEAN states. Something is now right about our diplomacy and the attitude of our public officials. Our current Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia who is a personal friend of our Foreign Minister, Anifah Aman, has been singled out for his failure to respond to this Cambodian maid matter with a sense of urgency.
I lived in Cambodia for 5 years and I know that Ambassador Dato Deva Ridzam was highly respected career diplomat, who was our first Ambassador after the Paris Peace Accord of 1991. I used to visit the Embassy frequently during his tenure (1992-1996). After his time, our embassy has been punching below its weight. BTW, Malaysia is still one of the largest investors in the Kingdom.–Din Merican
dinobeano - October 18, 2011 at 11:08 pm
It is time for Malaysia to recall her Ambassador to Cambodia and send a Special Emissary Dato Din Merican there because of his close affinity to the people of Cambodia.
_________
Thanks, Mongkut Bean for this youtube. I have put it together with two more from you on the thread so that Malaysians realise that they must treat others with respect, if they have any sense of decency left in their bones. We seem to lack empathy.–Din Mericam
Mr Bean - October 18, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Mr Bean - October 18, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Mr Bean - October 18, 2011 at 11:37 pm
Their only crime is to be born into poverty. Malaysia should be made to answer for all the crimes that have gone unpunished.
Mr Bean - October 18, 2011 at 11:43 pm
These are horrendous crimes against humanity and such stories continuing to come out of Malaysia is an indictment of the Najib Administration. Malaysia has refused over the years to sign the 1954 U.N. Convention Relating to Refugees, as expanded by the 1967 Protocol. Although they are not refugees technically, it would give them the protection they need.
Mr Bean - October 18, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Kuntakinte, what is your response? Doesn’t our government deserve my criticism on this matter, for example? My blog also focuses on treatment of human beings and other social issues.
I think, we treat our dogs and cats better than these people. We seem to think that these people have no dignity. They may be poor but their culture is far superior to ours, if we only care to understand their history and culture. We are minions, compared to the Cambodians. Baru maju dan kaya, sudah besar kepala. Ugly Malaysians.–Din Merican
dinobeano - October 18, 2011 at 11:59 pm
There’s something definitely very rotten with this country and her citizens. It basically boils down to Denial. We deny basic human rights for others – of freedom, liberty, justice, hard work, personal accountability and responsibility and so on and so forth. But that’s not all – We have become a nation of Liars, without conscience and lacking a moral compass.
Yes, this is a prologue to Bestiality.Blame it on our Leaders. Btw, who is the totally ineffectual Min of HR? What a piece of work – all geling kepala and no work done.
C.L. Familiaris - October 19, 2011 at 12:24 am
Denial, denial, denial. That’s all that Malaysian government servants are good for. No, No Cambodians died in Malaysia. How can the Police be so sure? Is there a central registry of birth and death? Have the Police verified all records in the registry?
The government must first register all Malaysian employers. All Malaysian employers must be screened, financial and background check, criminal records and history of employing maids. Any blemishes will result in denial. Any complaint and abuse will be recorded and will not be allowed to employ maids in future. Right now we don’t know who is employing whom and who is working for whom. It’s a musical chair sometimes with maids being passed around like a football. So abuses go unreported and not recorded.
Next the Police and other authorities such as Immigration and other law enforcement agencies needs to be trained in cultural sensitivities and to respect the rights of another human being. These foreign nationals are not inferior to Malaysians and should be treated with dignity. I have often been treated rudely by the Security Guards, Police and Immigration till they find out I am a Malaysian, then the tone of the voice suddenly changed to Yes Encik, and ever so polite.
In view of the recent actions of Indonesia and now Cambodia, the Government needs to seriously address this issue before it becomes an international fiasco.
______________
Deal with corruption first, I think.–Din Merican
webelos - October 19, 2011 at 12:28 am
Gelia, a maid works in a condominium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, June 17, 2009. At least two women have died …..
http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/Despite-Ban-Cambodian-Maids-Still-Being-Sent-to-Malaysia-131996523.html
Mr Bean - October 19, 2011 at 12:31 am
In this photo taken on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011, Cambodian maid Hok Pov, 31, cries as she speaks during an interview in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hok Pov may be poor but she had never been beaten or gone hungry until she came to work in Malaysia in April. She is among 41 Cambodian maids rescued this year by Malaysian rights activists, who warn of rising abuse and exploitation due to inadequate law to protect them.
http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/Despite-Ban-Thousands-of-Maids-May-Go-To-Malaysia-132045803.html
scarlet.pimpernel - October 19, 2011 at 12:42 am
Arrogance from our ambassador? Nothing surprising. Even the low ranking officers in our embassies are arrogant. What kind of culture are they cultivating at the foreign ministry?
didi - October 19, 2011 at 1:16 am
This country is really getting to be shameful… all the maid abusers are supposedly educated people! OMG what has become of education as a base to cultivate good people… starting with that recalcitrant one from Oxford who described the crime of LGE’s son as Kampong Buah Dada.. uncouthed! Should let him alone in an elevator with me for just 5 minutes!
Greenbug - October 19, 2011 at 1:19 am
Didi, you should meet the counter clerk at the Malaysian High Commission at Jervois Road Singapore those days… we were all employment pass holders and each time we see him at the counter to get things done like renewal of passport etc, he will tell us we are an ungrateful lot!
Greenbug - October 19, 2011 at 1:21 am
Greenbug,
Tell me about it. We have such people at our LA consulate. I don’t know since when is it wrong to enquire about our passport renewal status. If they don’t know anything about it then just say nicely that they don’t know it. Instead they chose to speak rudely as if regular Malaysians are inconveniences to them. Even some officers from the Malaysian Student Department suffers from the “lack of diplomacy” syndrome.
___________
didi and Greenbug, it is their duty to know and to serve Malaysians. It is their job.–Din Merican
didi - October 19, 2011 at 3:13 am
Malaysia has refused over the years to sign the 1954 U.N. Convention Relating to Refugees, as expanded by the 1967 Protocol……Malaysia should be made to answer for all the crimes that have gone unpunished.- Mr Bean
I agree,
Don’t forget, we are an Islamic country… with one Malay party wanting Malaysia to be an Islamic state while the Malay ruling party says we are de facto an Islamic state.
And we are being pounded daily about hudud, yet we, as an Islamic country, pretend there was no crime or criminal abuse of innocent young female foreigners who came here to earn a living for their poor families back home.
PAS has not made any statement on this issue and UMNO Ministers still on denial.
Corruption in the country is bad enough, and now we are perceive by the international community as a nation of callous, arrogant and crime-condoning nation.
And Cambodia is a fellow member of ASEAN. Malaysians, you MUST SPEAK UP… your reputation and respect are at stake.
There should be a STREET PROTEST against this INJUSTICE AGAINST INNOCENT LIVES.
Australian civil societies fight for the rights of asylum seekers. Why can’t we fight for the human rights of the foreign maids denied by the callous Malaysian employers??????
Frank - October 19, 2011 at 3:36 am
The Embassy and Consulate officers are all on 3 years fully paid vacation. That’s why when Malaysians ask for help we are considered an inconvenience because we make them work when they should be golfing and shopping at the Outlet Malls or just partying. This attitude trickles down to the locally recruited staff and since the bosses are not paying attention they get away.
Didi, the MSD in LA has only one officer and one local staff. Take your pick. I can give you their names if you need it. The passport section at Consulate General is manned by several people. They take turns to answer the phones so it’s harder to pinpoint. Is it a man or lady that you dealt with. I know who they are and I’ll mention to them or maybe the new Consul General when I next meet him.
_________
All the best to you, Webelos. Don’t forget that the new Consul General is in LA for golf, shopping and a jolly time too. In a few month’s time after he has settled down to his job, you can tell me if there is any change.–Din Merican
webelos - October 19, 2011 at 3:59 am
Just because we have some oil and gas plus a few floating Scorpene subs doesnt mean we can beat the living daylights of those that are poor and then arrogantly deny the whole thing. Its bloody kurang ajar.
Cambodia’s economy is picking up, if one visited the country recently. One day they will overtake us. When our oil wells dry up and corruption bled us dry then the situation will be reversed. We will be poor and they will be rich.
As a Malaysian, I feel shy to see fellow Malaysians abusing their maids and angry that our government chose to deny such cases.
Our time will come …
Semua Boleh la - October 19, 2011 at 4:00 am
Mine is the MSD in Chicago. But the person I dealt with for the passport renewal was a lady. It was 3 years ago but it was such an irritating experience.
didi - October 19, 2011 at 4:48 am
Something is not right about our diplomacy and the attitude of our public officials. – Dato’
yes, in fact a lot is not right with our civil service in general!
whats happening to maids is atrocious and how the malaysian officials are reacting is beyond believe. first deny everything, then admit a lttle and much later admit everything behind doors – this is what they call here ‘Salami Tactic’.
because the malaysian public is so gullible it makes our public officials think they are king of the world and not accountable to anyone.
thickheads
reeperbahn - October 19, 2011 at 4:55 am
There should be a STREET PROTEST against this INJUSTICE AGAINST INNOCENT LIVES.
Frank, we have to fight for OUR rights first lah. the government ignores and betrays its own citizens who were born and bred here. do you think they care a hoot about some poor souls searching for a pittance in malaysia.
reeperbahn - October 19, 2011 at 5:09 am
If this could happen to Indonesian maids who number no less than 250,000 what do you think is happening to Cambodian maids who number a tiny fraction of that i.e. lower than 10% by last estimate? What kind of Home Minister who says that maids do not deserve a day off because they are brought by their employers to shopping malls etc and that is their day off; that if they were to be given a day off, “imagine what they could do to cause trouble”? And an employer, Angela Lim, who says “these people are capable of doing it to themselves” (a racist remark), that this woman used hot iron across her chest, and used hot iron to cause horrendous injuries to her back and poured hot water over herself?
Cambodian maid Sal said her employer used electricity on her, drugged and raped her. She was mentally scarred for life by the abuse. After the case went high profile, the Malaysian government did nothing?? I’m shocked.
We deserve being classified as a third world country.
scarlet.pimpernel - October 19, 2011 at 6:41 am
If the government cannot treat us right because it is in a perpetual state of denial (semua okay, Malaysia Nombor 1), it thinks that the mistreatment of others, especially those these politicians consider inferior and downcast, is normal (perkara biasa saja).
Orang Bangsawan like Najib and his incompetent first cousin Kerismuddin and other nouveau fat cats cannot relate to ordinary people; they don’t know –or maybe they are the “saya mudah lupa” types–what it is like to be jobless and poor.They have had it good throughout their lives by being born to a privileged class, or more recently (since the Mahathir era) by acquiring wealth as proxies and cronies.
And then, we have public officials including the Police who don’t care; they are on the take and some have business on the side using proxies to deal with foreign workers or they are paid off by maid recruiting agencies. The MACC? Does it investigate? No, it has no time because it is busy saving its own skin (Teoh Beng Hock and Ahmad Sarbani ) and keeping politicians in UMNO-BN happy. Makan gaji dan buat duit cepat, that is the game in town.
So you can have all the statutes, rules and regulations, and client charters but without enforcement, they are not worth the paper they are printed on. In short, everything breaks down when corruption is the culture.
abdul haleem - October 19, 2011 at 7:26 am
Deal with corruption first, I think.–Din Merican
How, when the very top is corrupted, will he allow MACC to have a free hand? Unlike Justice Harun Hashim when he was head of ACA, the past and present head of MACC are all yes men, looking out for their periok nasi. Thus only way is to have a change of government even for at least one term. Now the shoe is on the other foot. Let’s see some fireworks and heads rolling.
Meantime Malaysia must show that it is serious in tackling abuse of foreign workers and take responsibility for what has happened and monitor the situation closely. Have foreign workers register with the Labor department and every foreign worker need to open a bank account and employers must remit wages to the bank account, pay SOCSO and EPF for the employee. This is to ensure that the foreign worker have funds to remit back home each month.
webelos - October 19, 2011 at 8:47 am
… and the ironic part is that here in Malaysia, we love to whack the Israelis for their cruelty over the Palestinians. Seriously, we need to take a long hard look at ourselves in the mirror.
Semua Boleh la - October 19, 2011 at 10:55 am
Absolute loyalty to particular political parties and their ideologies — a definite must
Competence and good performance on the job — not necessary (for promotion)
This is what you get in heavily politicised institutions
Phua Kai Lit - October 19, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Dear Semua Boleh la
The Israelis practise apartheid in the West Bank Occupied Territories.
We practise semi-apartheid (but refuse to admit it) !
The Israeli state promotes Jewish dominance.
In Malaysia, we have Dr M and the Perkasa fascists promoting “Ketuanan”
Phua Kai Lit - October 19, 2011 at 3:43 pm
In Islam when you speak you must speak the truth. When you make a promise you must keep it. And when you are given trust you must not betray it.
Anonymous - October 19, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Is that the reason why the Middle East has always been in a turmoil??
scarlet.pimpernel - October 19, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Tourist, visitors, guest workers and all others who visit Malaysia have the minisrty of Home Affairs as their first point of contact. The Jabatan Kastam, Jabatan Immigrasen, and the PDRM were specifically establised to make them feel at home. We live in a world where volumes of information can belt the globe in a flash through the internet. We must become aware of this and put our shoulders to the wheel to ensure that those foreigners who come to Malaysia as tourist or guest workers leave with good memories of our country. I do not know how to emphasise this point any further.
Anonymous - October 19, 2011 at 10:01 pm