Malaysia to impose travel curbs on women to check drug trade
Malaysia is planning to make it mandatory for women travelling abroad alone to have a letter of consent from parents or employers.
By PTI |
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is planning to make it mandatory for women travelling abroad alone to have a letter of consent from parents or employers following a spurt in their arrests in India and other countries after being duped or forced into smuggling drugs.
Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said the letter would be a declaration which will clearly state the reason for the woman's journey, adding a proposal to this effect has been submitted to the Cabinet.
"I have submitted this proposal to the Cabinet and both the Foreign and Home Ministries feel this is necessary. Many of these women (who travel alone) leave the country on the pretext of work or attending courses and seminars," Rais was quoted by local media as saying.
"With this declaration, we will know for sure where and for what she is travelling overseas."
The New Sunday Times said 119 Malaysians, 90 per cent of whom are women, have been imprisoned in various parts of the world, including India, for drug-related offences.
Most of them were women aged between 21 and 27, and are believed to have been duped or forced into being "mules" for the drug syndicates. Last year alone, 80 Malaysians, of whom 53 have already been charged, were detained for such offences.
But the move has drawn criticism from non-governmental organisations, women's organisations and politicians.
"This is an infringement of our rights," National Council for Women's Organisations Malaysia (NCWO) deputy president Faridah Khalid told the paper.
"We're the victims and now you're creating more problems. Why must you put more restrictions on women? We have worked hard over the years to get to this level," she added.
Advocacy group Tenaganita said the move was not practical. "Thousands of people travel daily. Who is going to scrutinise the declaration as anyone can forge their parents' signature," spokeswoman S. Florida was quoted as saying by the paper.
Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said the letter would be a declaration which will clearly state the reason for the woman's journey, adding a proposal to this effect has been submitted to the Cabinet.
"I have submitted this proposal to the Cabinet and both the Foreign and Home Ministries feel this is necessary. Many of these women (who travel alone) leave the country on the pretext of work or attending courses and seminars," Rais was quoted by local media as saying.
"With this declaration, we will know for sure where and for what she is travelling overseas."
The New Sunday Times said 119 Malaysians, 90 per cent of whom are women, have been imprisoned in various parts of the world, including India, for drug-related offences.
Most of them were women aged between 21 and 27, and are believed to have been duped or forced into being "mules" for the drug syndicates. Last year alone, 80 Malaysians, of whom 53 have already been charged, were detained for such offences.
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But the move has drawn criticism from non-governmental organisations, women's organisations and politicians.
"This is an infringement of our rights," National Council for Women's Organisations Malaysia (NCWO) deputy president Faridah Khalid told the paper.
"We're the victims and now you're creating more problems. Why must you put more restrictions on women? We have worked hard over the years to get to this level," she added.
Advocacy group Tenaganita said the move was not practical. "Thousands of people travel daily. Who is going to scrutinise the declaration as anyone can forge their parents' signature," spokeswoman S. Florida was quoted as saying by the paper.
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