The caring society image of Malaysia has been darkened by the violent couple who displayed no humanity in abusing Nirmala Bonnet.

It is the time the Malaysian public think seriously about the consequences of economic hardships that motivate foreigners them to come and work here to support their families. This could also happen to us if our economy goes downhill like Indonesia's.

Nirmala Bonet is only 19 years old and employment agency which brought her in should be questioned as Immigration Department guidelines require all foreign maids to be above 26 years of age.

If Nirmala had falsified her details, then the agency needs to bear even more responsibility as their job is not just to sell false bio-datas and exploit employers for about RM4,000 per head.

What has human resources minister done to protect foreign workers? The record has shown that he has been busy seeking new supply sources of labour and promoting human trading activities.

The service fee paid by foreign labour agencies to Malaysia agencies is US$450 per head for Nepalese workers and US$400 per head for Vietnamese, US$500 for Bangladeshis and RM4,000 for Indonesians.

Now the minister, Dr. Fong Chan Onn, is trying to create 'value-added training' to exploit foreign workers further by introducing them to MVLK programme which are strictly controlled by certain interested parties.

Fong is eyeing the 2,767,146 formal foreign workers in Malaysia on whom to impose job enhancement training. He is also to sign the MoU with Indonesia to guarantee a minimum wage of US$10 per day for their workers in formal sector with terms and conditions attached.

It is very questionable why the Malaysian government does not deal on a government-to-government basis but appoints these human traders who exploit both employees and employers in the name of services rendered.

The service charges for foreign workers can be greatly reduced and the quality of the training can be definitely standardised if the government is to assume this obligation.

Should there be any cases of abuse like that of Nirmala's, the government can take charge of the situation and act accordingly within Malaysian law.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration should consider revoking the licences of foreign workers employment agencies and taking over full responsibility for both local and foreign human resources.