- Title: MALAYSIA: Muslim boys undergo mass circumcision
- Date: 24th November 2009
- Summary: VARIOUS OR RELUCTANT AND CRYING CHILDREN VARIOUS OF PARENTS TALKING THEIR CHILD TO EASE HIM FROM FEAR
- Embargoed: 9th December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Malaysia
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA8T857MR24NIJQWTDWPAEE2RJ1
- Story Text: Over one-hundred Muslim boys went to the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday (November 22) for the start of mass circumcision ceremonies.
The events, held to coincide with the year-end school holidays which run into December, are a rite of passage for Muslim boys aged between 6 and 12 and whose faith requires removing the foreskin of the penis.
Circumcision is compulsory for Muslim boys under the Sharia law (Islamic Law) and is seen as a celebration of reaching manhood.
At the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur the boys marched to the drumbeat of traditional Malay music to herald the ceremony.
To ease their nerves ahead of the operation, the children were entertained with a gala procession, showered with confetti and served with their favourite food.
If the event proves to be successful, the Mosque plans to conduct more similar activities in the years to come.
"We will organise more (events) in the coming years, probably make it grander and all the activities and programme will also be upgraded," event organiser Ustaz Jamal Nahar said.
As the boys waited their turn, many looked apprehensive and confessed they were nervous.
When asked whether he was afraid, ten-year-old Ikmalluddin Ali, who was to be circumcised with his younger twin brother said, "Just a bit."
Mohammad Zaini, who brought his 9-year-old son, Mohammad Muhaimin, for the circumcision ceremony recalled his younger days, "I prefer the modern type because I have been through with this, quite painful last time, quite painful," he said.
Looking at his usually cheerful son, Zaini is aware of the fear and apprehension that Muhaimin is going through, "I think he is just trying to not focus on this, on the circumcision, because he is trying to avoid thinking of it," he said.
The procedure takes 15 minutes and costs 150 Malaysian ringgit ($44) and Ali's experience will be shared by scores of other boys in this Southeast Asian country of 27 million people over the next few weeks.
Mass circumcisions are also held in neighbouring Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, although among Muslims in the Middle East, circumcision tends to be a more private affair and done to baby boys.
Inside the operation hall, each child reacted differently when it was his turn to be circumcised.
Some backed out, some cried uncontrollably, some recited the Koran and wished that Allah would ease the pain, some even chose to play games on their mobile phones in order to get their minds off the operation.
Modern surgical techniques mean circumcision is now relatively painless -- a local anesthetic is applied to the penis and a special clamp device is used to hold the foreskin firmly in place before it is cut by a doctor.
According to Smart Klamp's distributor, Wawasan Medik, the medical company that carried out the procedures inside the mosque, the clamps have eased circumcision and is very safe to use.
"We have arranged for about 12 tables - estimated time taken with 12 tables if we start at 10am, by 1pm before noon prayer, we should be completed. So these Smart Klamps actually have eased procedures," Mohammad Zaidi Radzuan, chief executive officer of Wawasan Medik, told reporters.
Afterwards, the boys just needed a day's rest, said Radzuan, which is much better compared to stitches and confinement in bed in the past.
Each of the boys, dressed in traditional Malay clothes, left the mosque after the procedure with a gift bag containing a T-shirt and a souvenir.
Many parents also took home their sons' foreskins. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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