KOTA KINABALU: As signatory to the Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC), Malaysia should adopt more stringent measures to stop violence against children, and this includes caning.
Sabahan activist Sabrina Aripen said the strong stand against violence on children is stated clearly in Article 19 of the Convention.
In fact, said the president of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Intan, this recommendation to abolish capital punishment for children in Malaysia had been given by the Committee on the Rights of the Child way back since 2007, a whole eight years ago.
“Isn’t it time that Malaysia shows its credibility by complying with international laws? My experience in observing caning in schools in the past is that it is often not just a physical act, but one that is made publicly visible to add shame to a child. I do not believe any of this sort of punishment is particularly effective as it ignores the root cause of the child’s misbehaviour,” she said.
Sabrina, who is actively involved in animal rights movement, is also commenting as a mother.
“While some support the idea of caning as a ‘last resort’, where do we draw the line and who decides? Is there any guarantee that these punishments are given out in a rational manner?” she asked.
“I am quite astounded by certain parties who do not agree to criminalize caning to the point of bringing up culture and religion as an excuse.
“Is this to say that violence is in our culture and religion? Allowing for physical punishment in schools and even families perpetuates the cycle of violence by promoting the notion that violence is ok, and should be meted out whenever one feels angry.
“Is it any wonder that we are also facing a steady rise in the rates of assault and violence in the country?” Sabrina further asked.
She added that the ministry should make it clear that the new Act will not only specify caning as an offence, but to widen the definition to include any form of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
“There are many other ways of disciplining a child, and it is with love and care,” she concluded.
Apart from being very vocal on women’s issues, Sabrina is also attached to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Kota Kinabalu.
Sabrina was asked to comment on the proposal to make caning of children a criminal act under a proposed new Child Act.
The Congress of Teachers Unions in Education Service recently made a statement disagreeing with the proposal.
Its president, Mohamed Sabri Mohd Arsah, said the congress hoped the proposal would look at the bigger picture, especially from the cultural and religious aspects of Malaysian society, before the Bill is tabled in Parliament.
“We feel that in Malaysia, we combine culture and religion in bringing up children and I see many parties do not support the Act which will target parents.
“Even in schools, there are standard operating procedures before punishing students and not abusing them” said Sabri.
Meanwhile, president of the Pertubuhan Setiakawan Ummah Malaysia (Setiakawan), Datuk Mat Nanyan Saad, said the proposal to make caning children a crime in the new Act to replace the Child Act 2001 is not relevant to the culture and religion of the various communities in Malaysia.