Monday 5 May 2008

Home Ministry cannot impose conditions on Malaysians going abroad - Syed Hamid

Updates:

Now Rais Yatim says his proposal is meant for boys and girls who travel on their own, especially those below 21 years old and are still subject to parental supervision. Why didnt he say so, in the first place?

"There's some misunderstanding, " he said. ( Really? )

He said he only had good intention for 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. (read here )

Earlier story:

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Syed Hamid Albar said his Ministry cannot impose conditions on Malaysians going overseas, especially the requirement for women travelling alone to get a consent letter from their family before leaving the country.

Asking oversea-bound women for a consent letter from their family would also lead to other issues like human rights and the right of an individual.

Syed Hamid said this to reporters in response to the suggestion by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim that Malaysian women going abroad alone would have to furnish a consent letter from her family on the purpose of the visit, according to NST.

Continue...

“To me if you are an adult, even within the country it is difficult to ask them to inform their family where they are going. So if you are an adult, you have to act on your own.

“There cannot be a rule. When a person applies for a passport, we don’t ask them where they are going. It is their right for a passport. If a person applies for a visa, the country which approves the visa may ask for the purpose of the visit but they cannot ask for a person to get the consent of the family.”

“This is a matter of grave concern to us as Malaysian women are being used by syndicates as drug couriers. We have suggested for more warnings to be given.

“There should be more exposure in the media to warn them of the dangers of being lured to such activities with very good offers or good money.

“It is more of education. We need to educate so that they are not taken in by such promises. So far as we are concerned, a person who wants to travel makes his or her own decision to travel and how they are going to do it is up to them.

“But I think it is important that they are not influenced by syndicates offering them good money,” he said, adding that the situation would be different if children were used in place of women as children need to get consent of their parents to travel overseas.

In so far as travelling was concerned, we can’t impose any regulations. I think Dr Rais was just throwing ideas.

“Even if you ask permission from parents, we can’t be sure this thing will not happen. The parents can’t be following the person everywhere. So it has to be education to tell them the dangers of this sort of activities.

“It is more of a NGO (non-governmental organisation) activity. The police can give warnings, but we cannot impose conditions,” he added.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kak Ton

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I distinctly remember reading the article yesterday, and it read that the decision to make that proposal was after the Foreign Ministry (Dr Rais) had discussed it with the Home Ministry (Syed Hamid Albar).

So why is the Home Minister now saying this? Sure, it makes a lot of sense what he's saying now, but this is also after the "proposal" was made public, and scores of people opposing it.

Was Dr Rais the "sacrificial lamb"?

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

Hi Michelle,

That was what Rais claimed.

But it looks as if Syed Hamid is having second thoughts about Rais' silly proposal and decided that he better say something sensible after having read the angry response from us.

He's feeling the heat-lah!

Typical of BN/Umno leaders... cakap dulu baru fikir, then make a u-turn.

Wonder where they put their brains.

Anonymous said...

Tok mommy,

Either they have lost their brain and cant find it or they have been sitting on it.

That the reason whenever they speak,you know what comes out.

Sh*t!

Anonymous said...

I pronounce Dato Rais Yatim the Greatest Joker of the Year!

Anonymous said...

I just dont understand for the life of me why the Ministers come out with the most stupid statements.

Dont they ever think before opening their mouth?

I mean, they are supposed to be the leaders and yes leaders should lead us.

But that ridiculous proposal of Rais which makes no sense at all just proves that the ministers are nothing but a brainless lot.

How to respect them?

Bung Karno said...

Dont bet your luck holds all thru'.

What if any of your family members end up like one of those duped souls?

The joker might laugh back at you...

Anonymous said...

Dah kena hentam kiri kanan baru nak clarify.

Kan malu sendiri!

J.T. said...

Hi Kak Ton

Really? misunderstanding? I think he is just doing damage control.

So typical of them to make a statement without considering the consequences.

We need fresh brains in the government. People who can think forward.

Anonymous said...

Kak Ton

He must have lost his head. Like what you said, cakap dulu baru fikir.

This complete U-turn now involves even BOYS! I wonder how boys fit into the earlier category of "women". Tsk tsk.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

hi j.t.

Glad to know you have reached home safely. :)

Dont think it was a "misundestanding."

Agree with you totally...it's more of "Damage Control" after having made a blunder with that silly proposal of his & the uproar it caused among us, women. Lol!

If he was referring to "boys" and "girls" below the age of 21, why didnt he say so?

Was it that difficult to come up with a CLEAR explanation.

Naah, the later statement he made was an afterthought.

Macam lah kita ni kaum Hawa bodoh sangat.