Marty slams “Indonesian maids on sale” ads

Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Mon, October 29 2012, 8:36 PM

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has slammed the Malaysian “Indonesian maids now on sale” advertising leaflet found by an activist in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, saying it was “totally unacceptable”.

Marty said on Monday he had asked the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to lodge a formal complaint to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry on the matter.

“I want to underline that the Indonesian and Malaysian governments both denounce the advertisement. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry has also made statement,” Marty told journalists at the State Palace.

Marty said that he had phoned his Malaysian counterpart Dato Sri Anifah Aman earlier on Monday.

The leaflets were found by Anis Hidayah, executive director of Indonesian migrant worker NGO Migrant Care, in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, on Sunday.

The ad, displayed in Anis' twitter account @anishidayah, says “Fast and Easy application. Now your housework and cooking come easy. You can rest and relax. Deposit only RM 3,500 (US$114) price RM 7,500 nett.”

The advertisement has generated massive public outcry. (lfr)