The Lens: Jamie Oliver pulls children’s book after backlash over Indigenous stereotypes

British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has withdrawn his children’s book from sale after it was criticised for offending Indigenous Australians.

The book is about an Indigenous girl living in foster care and contains stereotypes about First Nations people. It is a commendable act to withdraw the book, as it becomes unhealthy to teach children these disrespectful stereotypes about indigenous peoples. However, Oliver could have avoided topics that he was unfamiliar with.

Suppose Oliver hopes to write about Indigenous Australians. In that case, he should have conducted thorough research before writing and approached professionals and experts to look for objectification or stereotypes in the book. He could have rewritten it for better quality and more appropriate content.

Should these two steps be taken, writers are free to explore the world of literature to express their views on diverse topics they do not necessarily identify with. It is widespread to see such content on social media platforms because one of their purposes is to create a common ground for conversations.

Showing respect to people of different races is not only crucial in writing but also in daily conversations. One way to achieve this is to start with neutral topics, such as their hobbies and recent activities, and talk about ourselves rather than people of other races and cultures.

Moreover, we should strive to learn the basics of history throughout different cultures, as it is essential to understand and sympathise with others’ unique cultural experiences. Creating an inclusive environment by using positive words can also help.

By fostering an inclusive environment in writing and daily interactions while being thoughtful and empathetic, we can create space for diverse voices while avoiding harmful oversimplifications.

Learn more about the issue here

Malaysia is witnessing an exodus of nurses to overseas jobs paying three or four times the starting salary at home. This has prompted warnings that low wages and poor conditions are hollowing out essential healthcare services.

The country has just one nurse for every 283 people – missing the WHO’s target of one per 225. Overcrowded public facilities, critical shortages of healthcare professionals and a widening disparity between public and private care are driving trained nurses overseas.

The Malaysian Nurses Association (MNA) says there are more than 117,000 registered nurses in the country, but they must care for up to six patients each in understaffed wards.

“Their welfare is not cared for, with many having to do double duties because of the shortage that led to detrimental effects on their mental health,” said Saaidah Athman, president of the Malaysian Nurses Union (MNU).

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She said these considerations had been the leading factor behind the job exodus, adding that nurses could earn monthly salaries up to the equivalent of 25,000 ringgit (HK$43,649) overseas in modern hospitals – as opposed to a starting wage of about US$600 (HK$4,669) back home.

Across TikTok, many Malaysian nurses in the Middle East are sharing their experiences there, ranging from practical tips on how to send money home, to others who post about being able to perform pilgrimages to Mecca as yet another perk.

“Migrate while you can, explore the outside world while you are still able to,” said Malaysian nurse Mira Nadia, who works in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

The nursing shortage in Malaysia is projected to become critical, with estimates of a nearly 60 per cent shortfall by 2030.

This statistic is concerning for Malaysia as it is already an ageing society, with 11.6 per cent of its 34 million people being older than 60. By 2030, that figure will be around 15 per cent of the population.

Research and respond

• How can Malaysia incentivise its nurses to stay and work domestically?

• Do you think the “exodus” of Malaysian nurses is enough to change their wages and working conditions?