Let foreign spouses work if they fit the bill

REFERRING to the letter “Willing to work but hindered by bureaucracy” ( The Star, May 2), I was surprised because I honestly thought the problem faced by foreign spouses to get approval to work in this country was solved a long time ago.

There may be a stereotyped image that foreigners are rich and do not really need to work. Actually, foreigners need money just as the locals do.

And if it happens that a foreigner has more talent, experience and desire to work than a local, then a wise company would gain by employing him or her.

The desire to work is particularly important because it is the best motivation for a person to do a good job. An eager worker will willingly learn and improve of his/ her own accord, and will be a better asset to the company than a worker who is reluctantly present just to earn a salary.

Employment offers not only the chance to be financially independent but also the opportunity to make friends, socialise, be a productive and respected member of the community and to learn more. All of these in turn increase a person’s self-worth and self-esteem.

Surely, a good and fair government is also about humanity, and understanding the intrinsic need of a person to be an active part of the community he/she lives in is humanity.

An employer is out to fill the vacancies in his company with the best employees, and if the best is a foreign spouse, then why deny him/her the chance to help develop the country?

On the subject of language, I know the Immigration Department and other government departments are concerned that “immigrants” should learn to speak the national language.

This is a legitimate request. But if the government prefers Bahasa Malaysia over English, then it should provide facilities for foreigners to learn Bahasa quickly and easily.

As far as I know, there are no schools in Malaysia that teach the national language to foreigners or anyone, especially adults, who wish to learn.

It is essential for a government to do what is right.

Denying anyone the right to work because of some obsolete law is certainly not in the best interest of the country.