Nepali Coda

From 2 July

View From the Ambassador's Office - July 2010

We were gathered from all around peninsular Malaysia (Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, and Petaling Jaya), more than twenty people composed of half a dozen different nationalities representing different Christian organizations that minister to foreign workers from Nepal.

Our host that Friday afternoon was Ambassador Dr. Rishi, at the Embassy of Nepal in Malaysia. Our topic of conversation was identifying ways in which these various faith-based organizations can work with the Embassy to further enhance the safety, security, and well-being of Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia.

The robust conversation was both challenging and constructive. Frustrations and grievances with the world as it is were graciously heard by the Ambassador and concrete action steps were proposed to begin linking the social service and justice work that churches are doing across the Malay peninsula with the resources and counsel available from the embassy.

With the Amnesty International report and memories of Nepal fresh in my mind, I left the meeting feeling inspired. Here was a group of Christians working across national, ethnic, and religious lines to build a relationship and plan for action with a public official - successfully entering and engaging the public square and wading into the murky waters of international relations.

If the leaders of these different organizations are able to sustain the energy of the meeting and solidify the relationships and plans that were generated, it would be a significant step in addressing the issues faced by migrant foreign workers in Malaysia.

Still, more obstacles and challenges remain, many of which are associated with internal matters and policies of the Malaysian Government. While that is an area where migrant workers and Ambassadors of foreign countries have no jurisdiction, it is precisely where local citizens have power.

This all leads me to wonder, if faithful Christians and concerned citizens are capable of knocking on an Ambassador's door and scheduling a meeting on an idle Friday afternoon, why not call up their own Members of Parliament and pursue partnership and action with them as well? What is there to lose?