An Indonesian part-time domestic helper approached me a few days ago asking if I’d like my house cleaned. I guess with Hari Raya just passed, they need some pocket money and my house can always do with a cleaning…anytime. So I said okay.
So this afternoon, Su came over with her friend, Bib.
Bib was fascinated with the Blueys and asked me why they were without their mum. I explained that the Blueys were found inside a drain and their mum did not want to look after them anymore. Then Bib saw all the packed yellow tshirts and asked about them. That’s when I started telling her about what we do.
I had to explain the importance of spay-neuter to her and that’s when the issue of our local councils catching stray animals and killing them came up. Bib was horrified! “What???”, she said. She was shocked that government authorities could do something as horrendous as killing animals.
She then told me that over in Indonesia (I’m not sure if it is the whole country or just her village), you can’t get away if you were to so much as knock down a cat on the road with your vehicle. You will be charged and it is as serious as knocking down a human. Kau tak akan terlepas, she said (trans: You won’t be able to get away with it).
Now, that’s (good) news to me. Not the knocking down part, but the part about it being viewed as seriously as a crime done to humans.
This is the first time I’ve ever heard such things and even if it is just within her village, I am GLAD to learn that some people still view animals as importantly as humans.
On hindsight, I wonder if it is they having not “progressed” and caught up with modernity, or they getting their priorities and values RIGHT.
I am inclined to think it is the latter.
I measure “progress” not in terms of amassing wealth or making life more automated. Progress, to me, is when there is more compassion and kindness. It is when people finally realise how inter-related and similar we are. Now, that’s wisdom, and that’s progress for me.
Over in Indonesia….really???
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3 responses to “Over in Indonesia….really???”
My Indonesian helper at home didn't understand why I was so anxious every time the old stray at my late grandma's place went missing or out of the house, until I explained to her that in our country, local councils catch and at times, shoot the animals. Many years back the puppies and 'wife' of this old stray were beaten to death by the council, in the middle of the road when I was at college. Funny thing we've never seen him with any other females since then.
My helper didn't quite believe me because she said in her country (or at least where she's from), people don't do that.
Maybe it's true then, that over there, they view animals as "more equal" to humans than Malaysians (in general)do over here.
It's time we learnt from them!
I myself have heard many Indons tell me that in their country, hurting (not to mention killing) cats is very DOSA. They insist it is un-Islamic to do so, and they consider the cats "macam darah daging sendiri". It horrifies them that people in Malaysia can actually be so cruel to them.
The Indonesians are very different and I really respect them. They are so poor and less opportuned compared to us, many are mere uneducated blue collar labourers, but their heart and minds where values are concerned, are superior by far.