32 Missing as Boat Sinks off Malaysia; 60 Survive
Jun 18th 2014 4:01AM Story on AOL: http://www.aol.com/article/2014/06/18/dozens-reported-missing-after-boat-sinks-off-malaysia/20914754/
OUR TAKE ON THE STORY: The boat in question was an illegal ferry operation transporting illegal "guest workers" back to Indonesia for Muslim Holy Days. There is no question of misregulation, lax inspection, or any other problem in the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (coast guard) , this was an illegal activity avoiding detection. Clearly there is a market in Malaysia for temporary or seasonal Indonesian labor, and a labor market in Indonesia willing to fill the demand at serious personal risk. Malaysia and Indonesia are blessed with excellent professional navies and "coast guards". But without a legislative solution, by both nations addressing a system of intelligent regulation of this trade "coast guards" and cooperating navies can't possible prevent or detect and disrupt every incident of this type. Its time for the politicians to step up, stop posturing, and deal with the reality. One nation has some surplus labor and the other has need of it. Obviously laws are in the way so the economic needs of both sides are being met illegally putting the lives of hard working people in danger. The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency will do its usual fine job of determining "proximate cause". But in the end this was an illegal activity avoiding detection / inspection/regulation. The real underlying cause must be addressed in law.
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