Girls stripped, caned over RM100 theft

Source: thestar.com.my

TL;DR

The story at a glance

Forty girls at a religious school in Gombak were punished by being stripped and caned when no one owned up to stealing RM100 from another student. The incident happened in their dormitory the previous Wednesday and was reported by Sinar Harian. A mother of one 13-year-old girl lodged a police report on Friday, leading Gombak police chief Asst Comm Ali Ahmad to say school officials would be questioned.[[2]](http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2015/03/40-girls-stripped-and-caned-over.html)

Key points

Details and context

The punishment took place at the school's dormitory in Gombak, Selangor, targeting girls likely around 13 years old based on one confirmed age.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning_in_Malaysia)[[2]](http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2015/03/40-girls-stripped-and-caned-over.html)

Reported by Sinar Harian and translated in The Star, the article focuses on the collective discipline method used over a small theft amount of RM100.

No further outcomes from the police probe are detailed in available reports.

Key quotes

“If no one took responsibility for the theft, the punishment could have continued until the morning assembly,” Sinar Harian quoted the mother as saying.[[2]](http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2015/03/40-girls-stripped-and-caned-over.html)

Why it matters

The incident raises questions about disciplinary practices in Malaysian religious schools, where collective punishment on minors over minor thefts can involve stripping and prolonged physical hardship. For parents and students, it highlights risks of extreme measures in dormitories without individual proof of guilt. Watch for any police investigation results or school responses, though none were reported beyond initial statements.

FAQ

Q: What exactly happened to the girls during the punishment?

A: They were made to strip, caned twice on the back and once on the palm, and forced to squat from 1am to 4am in the dormitory until a confession.

Q: Why did a girl finally admit to the theft?

A: A 13-year-old confessed because she could not bear seeing her classmates suffer further punishment.

Q: What did the police do after the mother's report?

A: Gombak police chief Asst Comm Ali Ahmad said school administration officials would be called in for investigations.

Q: How did the school react to the police report?

A: Officials asked the mother to withdraw it, fearing publicity.