Many Malaysians reacted angrily yesterday to Indonesia's move to temporarily stop sending its citizens to the country to work as domestic helpers because of mistreatment, saying maids had a 'good time'.
Employers speaking on radio and television talk shows said Indonesia was merely 'sabre rattling' and would not follow through with a ban.
'They are shaking us to get higher wages and other perks ... they need us more then we need them,' a housewife said on the Suria FM station on Thursday night.
Other employers of domestic helpers said Indonesian maids in Malaysia were well treated and had no reason to complain compared to those in Hong Kong or Taiwan.
'There, they work in a totally alien culture. Here it is the same language, same culture and food,' a talk show participant identified as Dr Raj said.
'My Indonesian maid even has her own television set. Besides, I take her everywhere during our holidays,' he said. 'She lives with us in comfort and gets paid for it.'