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Not satisfied? Return the wife
Women‘s rights activists in BC are aghast to learn that Malaysian matchmakers are offering a seven-day “trial period“ for men who want to buy a wife but aren‘t sure whether they will keep their new spouse for good.
Laurie Geschke, spokesperson of the Real Women of BC, described as “heinous“ this new promotional gimmick by matchmakers in Malaysia of testing out brides who are mostly foreigners from other Asian countries.
“It condemns young women and girls to a life of sexual servitude, and of being cut off and rejected,“ Geschke said when reached by The Asian Pacific Post to comment on this report.
For packages of RM15,000 to RM 20,000 (C$5,000 to C$7,000), interested Malaysian men can go to certain matchmakers to choose a bride from a selection of women from other Asian countries. Packages include wedding dinners.
The man can take the woman home for seven days and if he is not satisfied, he could bring her back to the agency to change for another woman.
Michelle Dodds, executive director of the BC‘ North Shore Women‘s Centre, said this trade is similar to the mail order bride system.
“It‘s very disturbing. The exploitation of women is becoming more prevalent,“ Dodds told The Asian Pacific Post. “This is all part of the globalization and corporatization of the trafficking of women.“
Dodds also said that the Malaysian government should tighten control over the operations of matchmaking agencies in order to prevent more women from being abused.
There is no single government authority in Malaysia which monitors matchmakers to ensure that their operations conform with laws.
Geschke said that this practice is no different from organized prostitution wherein women are traded.
“It‘s very possible that these girls were lured because of poverty and perhaps even forced by their own families because they need money,“ Geschke said.
The Malaysian government has received complaints over such cases which are reportedly prevalent in the state of Penang.
Chew Mei Fun, parliamentary secretary of Malaysia‘s Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, said these matchmaking agencies are engaged in “prostitution-like services.“
“We suspect that some are using matchmaking as a front for illegal activities,“ Chew said. “They sell women like products,“ said Chew, according to Malaysia‘s The Star.
Chew has no objection if matchmaking is conducted in a “healthy manner“ in which men and women were treated as equals. The couples must be given time to get to know each other before they decide to marry.
“Don‘t treat women like products and marriage like a business deal. It is an insult to women,” she said.
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