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Travel curbs on women

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is planning to make it mandatory for women travelling abroad alone to have a letter of consent from parents or employers following a spurt in their arrests in India and other countries after being duped or forced into smuggling drugs. Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said the letter would be a declaration which would clearly state the reason for the journey, adding a proposal to this effect has been submitted to the Cabinet. “I have submitted this proposal to the Cabinet and both the Foreign and Home Ministries feel this is necessary. Many of these women [who travel alone] leave the country on the pretext of work or attending courses and seminars,” Mr. Rais was quoted by local media as saying. “With this declaration, we will know for sure where and for what she is travelling overseas.” The New Sunday Times said 119 Malaysians, 90 per cent of whom are women, have been imprisoned across the world for drug-related offences. Most of them were women between 21 and 27, and are believed to have been duped or forced into being “mules” for the drug syndicates. — PTI

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