Nirmala Bonet – So What’s the Big Deal?
By: H.C Pang, 30th May 2004

Truly, my sympathy goes out to the friends and family of Nirmala Bonet. She indeed has endured much. And that is as far as I would go.

I hate to be in disagreement with the majority out there but I believe that issues should be put into the right perspective.

Firstly, anyone who has not had a live-in maid, is unqualified to comment on this issue. Hurting another fellow human is undoubtedly wrong. But has anyone wondered how badly some maids can behave? I can’t begin to tell you my personal terrible ordeal of 3 years with a live-in Indonesian maid. Still, I know not who Nirmala is, and what sort of a person she is. I, therefore shall not judge her.

Nirmala Bonet has suffered tremendous brutality, and the police should be commended for their swift action in apprehending the tormentor. But is there a need for what is starting to appear as a nationwide crackdown in maid abusing? One maid’s life should not be magnified more than it should be, for each day, more sufferings and worse in nature, are occurring beyond our belief.

Daily, Malaysian lives are being compromised in rapes, murders, armed robberies, kidnaps, snatch thieves, house-break ins, and road accidents – where are the police efforts in all these? Malaysia records 1500 reported rapes in single year, averaging 4 in a single day. And these are, but the reported cases only. Many more occur in silence, especially incest. Once again, where is the police action in all these?

Thus, Nirmala Bonet – for all that she’s worth, does not justify the massive police knee jerk reaction. If the police force is such an efficient team, their efforts can and should be channeled into more serious crimes. Period.