The recent public caning of 2 Muslim lesbian women has put Malaysia on the world news.
While many have vocally voiced out their objection and disgust towards the punishment, some wonders if the same attention should also be given towards children who has gone through the same treatment.
Malaysian TV host and singer Sarimah Ibrahim has expressed her thoughts on the public’s outcry towards the seemingly barbaric punishment, but she questions why most people are okay with caning children in school?
“What about going deeper, Malaysia? Into your own homes and cultures of how children are treated? I was whipped so bad at school with rotan by a grown woman for not learning my timetables when I was just 7-9 years old… And that was ‘acceptable discipline’?” Sarimah shared on her IG stories.
The 39-year-old celebrity further added that some parents and teachers would encourage beating children if they have bad behaviour, and some don’t even care if the children screamed or cried from pain.
https://twitter.com/akmhkm/status/1036764402656018432
“And we question why people are so violent as adults and why some people can’t see why any violence is wrong? Look at the childhoods… Violence begets more violence,” she continued.
Sarimah said that she disturbed by the fact that many adults are fine with all the violence children face daily in their homes and at school, which is seen as ‘discipline’ and is ‘acceptable’ and also necessary.
“Yet two grown women get 6 smacks by another adult with a rogan while they are sitting down in court, and everyone’s up in roars like it’s barbaric and so unacceptable, and I am hearing calls for an immediate change etc…”
In conclusion, Sarimah believes that violence should be prevented not only among adults but also among children. “Want to stop adults being violent? Only one way. Stop it when young. Teach by example.”
Want to stop adults being violent? Only one way. Stop it when young. Teach by example.❤️https://t.co/SnomSoevVL
— Sarimah Ibrahim (@sarimahi) September 4, 2018
Two women – 22 and 32 – were caned six times each in the Terengganu sharia high court when the two was found guilty of attempting to have lesbian sex in a car.
The public punishment has been condemned as “barbaric” and “cruel” even though it has been explained that caning was light and “not meant to cause pain”.
Several celebrities and political figures have voiced out their disagreement towards the punishment and they felt that the situation could be handled differently but definitely not this way. Some of them include Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Nurul Izzah, Khairy Jamaluddin, Alicia Amin, Adibah Noor, Caprice, and more.
Featured Image: Malay Mail
