When a 6-yr-old goes to jail

I’m not sure if I should feel incensed or worried or resigned when a 6-year-old girl spends a night in jail. Apparently her mother was arrested while trying to hand a letter to the Prime Minister Department’s office. Since there was no one to look after her, the police put her in her mum’s care – in jail. Take a deep breath and let’s retrace the steps.

Someone was arrested under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial of suspects who are deemed a threat to national security. There were clamours to release him and a few others, for a variety of reasons, which failed. Supporters now resort to submitting letters to the Prime Minister to petition their release. A wife seeking the release of this husband joined the petition and was arrested with the group. Since mother and father are now detained, the poor girl is left alone and the police think it’s best that she’s cared for by her mother.

I have no comments on the Act, detention and arrest, but a 6-year-old in prison is something else! It reminds me of my son’s schoolmate who is growing up in a brothel – because his dad runs one.

Sometimes we stop thinking about the kids. We want them to grow up, true. We treat them like adults. We stop realising that they are not ready. Today CNN reported that Russian children beat a kangaroo to death in the zoo; throw in some seagulls too. When children lose their innocence, we blame their parents, their schools or their friends. Excuse me?