I refer to the proposal by the Home Ministry to ensure that foreign maids are o­nly employed by individuals having the same religion. Parliamentary secretary Abu Zahar Isnin was quoted as saying that Muslim maids should o­nly be hired by Muslims and the same principle applied to non-Muslim maids. He added that the regulation would allow foreign maids to work in a more conducive situation.

This is another classic example of our politicians wasting their time o­n trivial matters rather than serving the people, which they have been elected to.

The statement that the same principle is applied to non-Muslim maids is nothing more than to appease the non-Muslims that they are even handed o­n this issue. I believe the main issue here is the handling of pork by Muslim maids.

This issue should simply be left to the maids themselves to decide whom they wish to work for. My guess is that the majority would have no preferences and would be happy to work for a kind considerate employer. A considerate employer I believe would also respect the maid's wish for not handling pork if she is a Muslim.

I have been residing in Jakarta for the past four years and since the majority of Muslim maids are from Indonesia, I would like to make the following observation. Firstly, pork is sold over the counter in all major supermarkets here. There are no separate payment counters and the cashiers have no qualm in handling these non-halal food items.

Secondly, many Indonesian Muslims work in restaurants serving non-halal food. Thirdly, many Muslim maids are employed by non-Muslims. If the Indonesian government has not placed any such restrictions in their own country, why is Malaysia introducing these additional conditions of employment, which will be a burden to the maids as it reduces their chances of employment?

I believe this is another attempt by politicians to champion all things considered to be more Islamic. Malaysians are becoming more and more polarised with each passing day. The constant emphasis of Muslims and non-Muslims, bumiputras and non-bumiputras are dividing the people of this nation.

Will we o­ne day go as far as enacting laws that require o­nly Muslim doctors to treat Muslim patients and Muslim children are encouraged to o­nly mixed with their own kind for fear of being corrupted by non-believers? I hope not, but we seem to be creeping in that direction.