Women traveling from Malaysia must now carry documents, approved by their parents or employers, stipulating reasons for travel. In response to the overseas arrest of several women over the years for drug smuggling, the Malaysian government has crafted a rule that applies specifically to women.
This new proposal seems to have taken its inspiration from statistics that say 90% of the 119 Malaysians in prisons worldwide were incarcerated for drug-related crimes. Under the pretext of attending conferences or studying abroad, some women have taken to the drug trade as a source of income. In response, this form of ‘Big Brother’ government oversight will make sure that the government knows where and why females are leaving the country.
The proposal seems to lack criticism or measures for men, who are also susceptible to being duped. Instead, the proposal is being questioned as being indicative of a mistrust of women in making their own decisions. Council Deputy President Farideh Khalid of the National Council for Women’s Organizations was quoted as saying “It is totally ridiculous and it’s a totally regressive proposal with regards to women’s right to movement.”
The government is defending the legislation by calling it an anti-crime measure that starts in the home-land and serves of protect women, but many feel that this form of documentation and approval for adult women will simply be an infringement of rights and not an effective measure against over-seas drug crime.
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