Indonesia protests vacuum cleaner ad airing in Malaysia that says fire your maid

[HereIsTheNews]

Indonesia protests ad for vacuum cleaner ad airing in Malaysia that says fire your maid

Malaysian firm's pitch for vacuum cleaner seen as 'utterly insensitive' to workers

PUBLISHED : Friday, 06 February, 2015, 3:38am
UPDATED : Friday, 06 February, 2015, 3:38am

Agence France-Presse in Kuala Lumpur

Joko Widodo is welcomed in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AP

Indonesia has formally protested to the Malaysian government over a vacuum cleaner ad it says is "utterly insensitive" to the hundreds of thousands of its citizens working as maids in the country.

The ad by the Malaysian distributor of RoboVac automatic vacuum cleaners declared "Fire your Indonesian maid now!", according to versions that have been seen on social media.

The flap emerged just as Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived yesterday for an official visit, his first since being elected last year.

"The ad by the private company Robovac is utterly insensitive and demeaning to the people of Indonesia," the Indonesian embassy in Malaysia said.

The embassy said it sent a formal protest note to Malaysia on Tuesday.

"We urge Malaysian authorities to ban the ad," it said, adding that it was considering further legal action against the company.

Relations between the two Southeast Asian neighbours have repeatedly been strained over the treatment of Indonesian domestic helpers in Malaysia.

Recurring reports of physical and other abuse by Malaysian employers or recruiters had prompted Jakarta to angrily cut off the supply of domestic workers in 2009.

It was resumed two years later following an agreement to provide maids better protection and working conditions.

The Indonesian embassy said the ad has since been removed from circulation. The company could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The treatment of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia is expected to be on the agenda when Widodo meets his host Prime Minister Najib Razak today. The two leaders will also discuss disputes on maritime borders, trade, economic, and security issues, Jakarta's foreign minister spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said.