I am writing with reference to the Star article entitled '45 Nepalese squatting at KLIA' published on Saturday.

It was reported in that article that "[f]orty five Nepalese workers have been squatting at the KL International Airport for up to five days, many without food, as their employers have failed to pick them up."

To say the least, I am appalled by what I read in the article. However, before I give my two cents worth on that, I would like to make raise a point about the way the article was written.

Both the title and contents of the article use the word 'squatting' when describing the Nepalese workers' presence in KLIA. I presume that the writer used that word in the sense that someone illegally occupies a property and not physically in the squatting position.

If my presumption is correct, then I believe that the writer and also the editor should seriously review their take on situation. Firstly, insofar as the Nepalese workers' arrived in Malaysia with valid travel documents their presence in KLIA should not be viewed as illegal. Secondly, the use of the word 'squatting' indicate that they remained in KLIA by choice. I think that was hardly the case.

Wouldn't 'stranded' have been a better choice of word?

If the report was accurate about what the Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung said about the situation, then I must say that his remarks were ridiculous. Firstly, he indicated that "the normal ruling required employers to clear their workers from KLIA within 48 hours of arrival." To my mind, such a ruling is hardly satisfactory, if not inhumane and degrading.

We must remember that these are living, breathing human beings we are talking about. They are not inanimate objects or commodities to be shipped here and there and stored wherever we like.

Can the deputy home minister imagine what it's like to stay in a foreign airport for 48 hours, not knowing anybody or the local language? And more often than not, these foreign workers can hardly afford the premium prices for food and beverage in the airport.

For an ordinary person arriving at any airport, having to deal with a foreign culture and environment can be quite daunting. And I am sure most people do not like to wait for even more than half an hour for their luggage.

Thus, I am really baffled how the deputy home minister could make such a remark and make it sound like it is an acceptable treatment of foreigners.

Secondly, it was reported that "he hoped such situations would not be repeated as they gave KLIA a bad image." Although the image of KLIA is important, I don't think that it should be a major concern here. If we are at all concerned about such superficial matters, then we should be concerned about the image of our entire nation. Do we want to be seen as a nation that does not care about the welfare of foreigners?

In any case, the government should be more concerned about rectifying the situation and going after the employers and/or their agents who have failed to comply with the rules, as faulty as they may be.

Lastly, according to the article "Chor said these workers would be sent to detention centres in a few days if their employers failed to turn up." I could not believe my eyes when I read that last line. These foreign workers have legal rights to work here. How does the deputy home minister plan to justify sending them to detention centres?

Moreover, they have done nothing wrong, except believe that they would have a better chance of making a living in our country. I believe that many Malaysians would grab the chance to work overseas if they believed there were better prospects in a foreign country.

If anyone should be sent to detention centres, it should be the errant employers and/or their agents who have failed to do provide for the welfare of these workers.

I sincerely hope that the government would do the right thing here. And, of course, I certainly hope that such a situation does not arise again for the sake of the poor foreign workers. To that end, I hope the government will bring the errant employers and/or their agents to justice, and review the relevant laws and regulations in respect of foreign workers in Malaysia.