I read in the New Straits Times about abused Indonesian maid Nirmala Bonat being depressed. Her psychological state was defined by Kuala Lumpur Hospital director Dr Jalal Halil Khalil.

Yet, to my bewilderment, the article also quoted an official from the Indonesian Embassy as stating that members of the public could visit Nirmala provided they do not gawk at her and treat her as an object.

The statement from the embassy official sounds incredulous. What is the purpose of getting the public to visit Bonat? Is it to collect funds for her medical treatment? Or is to help raise some savings for her?

If it's neither, then the embassy should display a sense of responsibility and avoid adding stress in more ways than one to the already tortured teenager.

Let Nirmala be with people she feels comfortable with. With her state of mind now being volatile, who will the authorities or embassy be quick to point fingers at if Nirmala suddenly loses her cool amidst the close-up attention from the public.

It is bad enough that Nirmala has been treated in a despicable manner. And now she is - by the very fact that the public is being allowed to visit her - being treated as an 'object'.

Was Nirmala consulted on this? Was Dr Jalal's medical opinion sought on whether the public should be allowed to pay this girl a visit?

Also, knowing that she does not share a close bond with her mother, the authorities went ahead and brought her mother down, resulting in the traumatised Nirmala withdrawing even deeper.

While Nirmala's mental, emotional and physical recovery is everyone's concern, how we go about helping her heal will determine whether we truly have her welfare at heart .