GOVT MULLING SPECIAL UNIT TO ADDRESS MAID ABUSE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry is considering setting up a
special unit by pooling the resources of several ministries to find the best way
to address cases of maid abuse in the country, Minister Hishammuddin Hussein
said Tuesday.

He would raise the matter at the Cabinet meeting, he told reporters at
Parliament House when asked how the government would go about tackling the cases
of maid abuse following the death Monday of Indonesian maid Mantik Hani after
alleged abuse by her employer recently.

Mantik, 36, died at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital Monday, six days
after she was admitted to the hospital where, Hishammuddin said, doctors tried
their best to save her life.

The minister said the government would not compromise on the question of
safety of the people, regardless of nationality.

"I will not compromise in such matters. Safety is a right of everyone ...
not only Malaysians but anyone who is on Malaysian soil," he said.

Hishammuddin said he had learned from Deputy Inspector-General of Police
Ismail Omar, who headed the probe, that the investigation papers were being
readied for submission to the Attorney General's Chambers.

"I hope the case will be brought to court as soon as possible because, in
the context of bilateral relations with Indonesia, it is in the people's
interest to see that the case is brought to court and judgement served
immediately," he said.

Hishammuddin said the death of Mantik could not be construed as weakness on
the part of the government in addressing such cases as it had to be seen in the
overall context taking into account the 280,000 Indonesian maids in the country.

"I hope everyone will understand such abuse can happen because there are
people who would go to the extent of doing it ... it is impossible for us to
monitor all employers," he said.
-- BERNAMA