Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismai
KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is in discussion with the Health Ministry on female genital mutilation (FGM) in Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said today.
“We will discuss and look at it. If it doesn’t give any benefit, then we should do something (about it),” she said to reporters at the Parliament lobby.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said that though FGM is seen as a cultural practice in Malaysia, it is not the same as the practice in Africa.
She was asked to comment on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) statement yesterday that Putrajaya had misled the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on human rights on the FGM when it had defended FGM on female infants as a ‘cultural obligation’ in Malaysia.
Responding to a question on a separate issue, Dr Wan Azizah said the welfare of teachers and their family members must be taken into consideration.
She said it is important to ensure that the environment where the teachers serve is conducive for them.
“If their children need help, the Welfare Department must look into this,” she said.
A female teacher had uploaded a post on her Facebook account expressing disappointment that her application for a transfer next year has been turned down.
She admitted that she suffered from depression and asked whether anyone can offer to take care of her six children aged from two to 14.
– Bernama