Why do Aussies’ dirty work?

I refer to Dennis Ignatius' column, Why do Aussies’ dirty work? and cannot help but feel that our nation, in its efforts to project a progressive image to the world, is in fact turning a blind eye to activities and businesses that have a deleteriously negative effect on our country.

The writer is rightfully concerned that Malaysia, which already has a serious problem dealing with asylum seekers, and many illegal aliens who try to pose as political/economic migrants, is taking on a problem that it will find too hot to handle in the near future. Moreover, we already have a big problem with more than 2 million foreign workers flooding our country, about half of them likely to have gained access to this country's labour market illegally. There are no signs that this "labour tide" will ebb anytime soon.

The title of the column, 'why do Aussies' dirty work' also remind us of the ongoing controversy of the Lynas project, when our Government agreed to build a radioactive rare earth processing plant (which the Aussies themselves object to) in Kuantan! The question is clamouring for an answer.

I feel our country, and in particular, our leaders have to be more circumspect when they practise their Statesmanship all over the globe, and not conduct activities that will further erode our country's fast dwindling credibility. In my opinion, we already have the dubious distinction of being a conduit for drug and human traffickers in the South East Asian region, and there are reports that our citizens smoke more "duty free" cigarettes than those on which tax has been paid. And just today, we read of reports that many CEOs and Company Directors drive luxury cars that have almost totally evaded Customs duties.

We know there is a price to be paid for progress and development, and our fast depleting forests are a testament to that, unfortunately. So, why must we also "import" further degradation?

In ending, let me tell you of an incident that happened in a developing SE Asian country(Philippines) some years back. That country was importing "Medical waste" from a developed Asian nation (Japan), purportedly for recycling some of the reusable stuff. In one of the shipments, the Customs discovered used syringes and dirty tampons, among the waste, and it caused a huge furore. Poor nations must always guard against being used as 'dumping grounds' for the rich, that's the least we should do for our "maruah"

I pray that our country will never stoop to this level, God forbid!

We don't need to import more problems..