Malaysian women may have to carry letter of permission to leave the country

Now this is a doozy. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry, in a move to curb women from being tricked into carrying drugs out of the country, has proposed that all women traveling out of Malaysia be requires to have a letter from their parents or employers.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the letter would be a declaration which stated clearly the reason the woman was travelling.
He said his ministry and the Home Ministry feel the move is necessary and a proposal for this has been submitted to the Cabinet.

Of course this is all being proposed under the rhetoric of protection. Charming. Marina Mahathir, the daughter of former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohammad, blogged about the proposed mandate yesterday:

The assumption is that women are like children who need to be protected for their own good. They cannot be relied on to take responsibility for themselves. Thousands of Malaysian women travel abroad on their own every year and return safely. Should we not emphasise that, rather than the relative few who get into trouble? Of course we must help these women but we can prevent more of these incidents happening by simply educating women.

Indeed. Why is it that so many laws that limit women’s rights – no matter where in the world – tout themselves as “protecting” us? Don’t they know we can see right through that shit?
Thanks to Tiara for the links.