Teachers against caning ban on children - Congress

The Congress of Teachers Unions in the Education Service (KKGDPP) does not agree with the proposal to make caning of children a criminal act under a proposed new Child Act.

Its president Mohamed Sabri Mohd Arsad said the congress hoped the proposal would look at the big 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," he told reporters after a meeting of the KKGDPP with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister, here Tuesday.

Mohamed Sabri was commenting on a proposal by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to include detailed provisions in the new legislation on acts which could cause physical or mental injury to children.

However, Mohamed Sabri said the matter was not specifically discussed during the meeting of about almost two hours with Muhyiddin.

In JERANTUT, Malaysian Women Development Institute (IKWAM) chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman, said all parties should sit together to discuss the matter and consider society's views.

"Do not be in a hurry to pass judgment (on the statement by Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim) as we need to give time for feedback and round-table discussions," she told reporters at the Kampung Aur Gading here.

She was met after a ceremony to hand over contributions from Ikwam and Universiti Malaysia Pahang to flood victims in the village here today.