MALAYSIA
The Star-Feb 18
For a certain Rottweiler, the Year of the Dog did not get off to a good start. Its friend died.
Dogs excel at reading human body language, a trait they developed over 10,000 years as hunting partners of ancient humans.
Anyone who has kept a dog will know their capacity for empathy.
If something sad happens and you cry beside your doggie friend, it too will become immensely sad and even howl mournfully – its way of crying.
Did Adelina Lisao the maid cry when she slept near the Rottweiler in the front porch?
She came from a province of 566 islands surrounded by a crystal clear sea at the edge of the Indian Ocean.
Her homeland, East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia, is lush and pristine.
That front porch of the house in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, must have felt like a prison.
The family’s Rottweiler, whom Adelina bathed and fed and spent a lot of time with when she was alive, is the only other being who knows what happened to her.
For now, we do not know what has happened to the dog.
Everyone in that household – mother, daughter and son – was remanded to assist the police in the investigation of Adelina’s death. The Rottweiler was taken away, too.
We tried to find out where it is being impounded. But all that one police officer could say, albeit in jest, was: “Yes, we want to take the dog’s statement too.”
Wherever that Rottweiler is now, this is one Year of the Dog it is most likely not enjoying.
According to Adelina’s passport, she came to Malaysia in 2014 when she was only 17. She died in hospital at the age of 21, a day after being rescued.
From initial findings released by the police, she died of multiple organ failure secondary to anaemia.
What could have led to her having such a low red blood cell count that her organs could not get enough oxygen to function?
Police are also investigating whether Adelina was a victim of human trafficking as her documents were found to have been forged.
Domestic helpers put their personal lives aside to serve the families of their employers.
They put on hold their dreams and plans for their own homes and instead put all their attention into helping to maintain ours.
How many Chinese New Year reunion dishes did your maid help you cook days ago?
Do not forget that your maids are human beings as well. They live in servitude to you because their families are impoverished and they have no other means of earning an income.
Treat maids as helpers, not as people lesser than you.
Think of yourself as your maid’s leader, and be a gracious, inspiring and compassionate person.
Be a family with such dignity and moral standing that your maid is proud to serve and protect.
When your own maid looks up to you respectfully, you can be sure you are someone worthy.
(First published in The Star – https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/the-star-says/2018/02/18/be-worthy-of-your-maids-respect/#Vf3lDFgPrwte1lRg.99)
