Female circumcision part of Malaysian culture, UN told

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 7 years ago · Published on 9 Nov 2018 7:40AM · 9 Comments

The Universal Periodic Review of Malaysia in Geneva, Switzerland, was broadcast live with Malaysian officials answering queries on a range of human rights practices in the country. – EPA pic, November 9, 2018.

FEMALE circumcision is part of the Malaysian culture, an official told the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

A representative from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry said while female genital mutilation (FGM) was not practised in Malaysia, circumcision applies to babies because of cultural norms.  

“Malaysia objects to practices that are harmful to female babies and children.

“Malaysia does not practise female genital mutilation, but the practice of female circumcision on babies is allowed as it is part of a cultural obligation,” he said when answering questions from several countries during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Malaysia in Switzerland.

The representative was answering questions from different countries, including Paraguay, which asked about the status of FGM in Malaysia.

He went on to say the female circumcision done on babies was not harmful and only altered the baby a little bit.

“The type of circumcision practised is very mild and does not involve any cutting,” the representative said. 

The Malaysian Health Ministry also provides guidelines on FGM, which can only be performed by medical professionals.

A participant at a rally against female genital mutilation at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. November 25 is designated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. – EPA pic, November 9, 2018.

However, Coalition of Malaysian NGOs in the UPR Process (Comango) spokesman Honey Tan accused the official of misleading the UN panel by classifying female circumcision as part of culture. 

“Come on, lah! Malaysia does not practice #FGM but female circumcision as part of a cultural practice? 

“If there is a silver lining, at least now Malaysia does not say that it is a religious practice,” the lawyer tweeted. 

In Malaysia, FGM is practised among Muslims where the clitoral hood is cut off.

In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling it a violation of human rights and urged the countries to ban the practice. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines FGM as comprising all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. – November 9, 2018.

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Comments

  • This is bullshit.

    Posted 7 years ago by [email protected] · Reply

  • What good reason is there to cut off the ladies' clitoral hood, did not Nature mean it to be protective?..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • I must say that THE VERY THOUGHT OF HAVING MY SKIN PRICKED TO GET A DOCTOR'S INJECTION FOR MEDICAL REASONS MAKES FAINT-HEARTED ME TO BE FEARFUL & APPREHENSIVE ENOUGH TO CRINGE!..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • Is this the right time to lay bare & find out the truth about this "harmful" practice? Let me begin by asking if circumcision of a female increases her sexual response? Do the ladies welcome this, if true?..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • female circumcision is already considered FGM. Babies do not have the opportunity to object. i wonder if the rep actually understands the type of verbal diarrhoea coming from him.

    Posted 7 years ago by Alex Chong · Reply

  • Stop all this nonsensical cultural bullshit. It is being played in the guise of religious obligations. The stupid over the hill religious leaders especially those in Malaysia will view this as threatening their rights in race and religion and going all out using the ICERD as an excuse. Once and for all irrespective of which religion , all absurd cultural activities with religious bullshits connotations on minor shud be ended.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • BLIND FATE. Blind follow the Blind . Muslims are lost in RITUALS . They shld concentrate how to Attain Inner Peace not Rituals n Greed.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • Please name the benighted representative who misinformed the UN on female circumcision rites in Malaysia. He must not be allowed to get away with damaging our moral standing in the eyes of the civilized world. Genital mutilation is NOT part of local culture. It was a noxious and perverse tribal custom imported from Saudi Arabia.

    Posted 7 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply

  • FGM =FEEL GOOD MAN.OK THANKS

    Posted 7 years ago by CHEE Meng Ng · Reply