Showing Malaysia’s Best Face To The World!
May 6, 2008
Twenty-two years after leaving Wisma Putra, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim has returned to be Malaysia’s face to the world. The country’s cultured chief diplomat has already embarked on a blistering pace, representing the country internationally. The Foreign Minister spoke to The Star’s PAUL GABRIEL on his efforts to create better relations with the world, how Malaysia can present a better image of itself, and the golden rule of diplomacy.
That’s the introductory text of The Sunday Star’s latest centerspread on our newly-minted Foreign Minister, Dr Rais Yatim, which can be read here. So how does our Foreign Minister plan to help Malaysia present a better image of itself? His first course of action is to ensure women in Malaysia traveling abroad get their family’s consent first, absolutely forgetting that this is Malaysia and not Saudi Arabia.
Understandably so, women’s groups and most sectors of society has lambasted this patriarchal suggestion as unrealistic and downright sexist, with many also pointing out that this would limit the freedom of movement (human rights) of women. Countless bloggers have already criticized this crazy idea, and I just happened to be jump on the bandwagon a lot later.
Has Malaysia presented a better image of itself to the world? Hardly.
Some foreign media’s (which are read by foreigners) take on the situation:
BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, AFP, AP
Since then, the Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, God bless his wretched soul, has shot down the idea. But Malaysian politicians, with their backs against the wall, have a typical modus operandi when faced with such a situation. They usually respond by saying that they have been misunderstood/misquoted. Rais Yatim is no exception.
(Reuterspic)
Rais: Proposal meant for those under 21
JAKARTA: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim clarified here yesterday that his proposal for Malaysian women to show a consent letter from their family or employer before travelling out of the country alone was only meant for those below 21 years of age.
“There’s some misunderstanding. I was referring to boys and girls who travel on their own, especially those below 21 and who are still subject to the supervision of their parents. Women above 21 years old are adult enough.
“But for those below 21, it’s only fair that parental guidance be given,” he told reporters at a press conference here at the end of his working visit to Indonesia yesterday.
Rais said the consent need not necessarily be in the form of papers or letters of declaration, as that would be a big hindrance.
“What I meant was those below 21 should be guided; parents should ask why they want to go to Venezuela or Spain.
“Parents should know where their children are going,” he said.
Rais said he was only concerned over the safety of those who travelled alone overseas, especially children.
“But if this is regarded by human rightists to be against human rights, wait until their own children get into trouble,” he said.
In Kuala Lumpur, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said the proposal would not be a violation of human rights since it would, if accepted, only apply to those who were still under the legal protection of their parents.
He said the proposal would be raised in the Cabinet as soon as possible (Klaw: I wonder, if you only plan to get the parents to GUIDE their under-21s, why are you bringing it up in Cabinet?).
Oh, do pardon my general lack of understanding of women, but Malaysian women are legally allowed to drink when they are 18. Malaysian women are legally allowed to smoke when they are 18. Malaysian women are legally allowed to fuck and make babies when they are 16, for heaven’s sake. And suddenly, a 21 year old woman is not adult enough to travel alone and make independent decisions?
Let’s hope the cabinet has some sense and not allow Malaysia to implement some of those dumb American laws which allow their citizens to vote when they are 18 but having to wait to 21 to sip alcohol.
Rais Yatim says the darndest things!
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