Malaysia had suspended a team-building program for school children where trainers forced them to wade across a muddy pool with a blood python in it, senior official said.
The incident took place in northern Perak state, where children aged between 10-12 years old involved and sparked outrage among Malaysians after a video surfaced on social media.
“We have also suspended four trainers and their six assistants. An investigation is underway into the blood python incident. It is not part of the training programme,” Colonel Mohamad Noor Hassan, the head of the local Civil Defence Force, told AFP.
In a video posted by Hanisya Abdul Hamid, it shows a group of six girls screaming and struggling to get out on the pool with a python inside while their trainer sprays water on them to prevent coming out.
A child psychologist and former human rights commissioner of Malaysia, Chiam Heng Keng said, “I condemn their action. It definitely would have traumatised the children who will probably be experiencing nightmares”.
There were a total of 45 students – 17 boys and 28 girls – participated in the said program which was aiming to build courage and encourage bonding between the students.
RSS