KUCHING: “I’m not afraid at all; it is going to be a memorable experience ever!” said Mohammad Irfaan Khairi in excitement before proceeding with his circumcision procedure.
The 11-year-old from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Petra Jaya, was among the 60 male pupils aged eight to 12 who participated in the inaugural mass circumcision ceremony in accordance with the Islamic ritual.
It was organised by KPJ Kuching Specialist Hospital (KPJ KcSH) at the hospital compound here today (Feb 18).
Before the circumcision procedure began, the pupils joined in the ‘kompang’ (traditional drum) procession and then proceeded for the special ‘bersiram’ or ‘shower’ ceremony, which saw firemen spraying the boys with water.
Traditionally, mass circumcision is often carried out in village areas, and the procedure would be done by a ‘Tok Mudim’, a practitioner of the traditional circumcision method.
Today, public or private clinics are the most common place to go for circumcisions.
Meanwhile, accompanying Irfaan was his father, Zulkifli Suhaimi, 42, who said that he was happy to be able to follow and give support to his son for undergoing the circumcision procedure.
“I found out about the programme organised by the hospital through my son’s school parents’ WhatsApp group.
“Therefore, as parents, we must give the best to our children, and through this programme, it makes it easier for parents to send their children for circumcision,” said the father of four.
He also hopes a similar programme would be expanded further in this state as well as implemented by other health institutions.
As for Mohd Azman Sulaiman, 41, who brought his 11-year-old son, Mohd Adzriff Isyraf Mohd Azman, to be circumcised, he thanked the hospital for organising such a mass circumcision programme.
“When I received the information from a friend who informed me about this programme, I did not miss the opportunity and continued to register my child for the circumcision,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Adzriff said that he did feel a little nervous when his parents informed him about the circumcision programme.
“However, when I see that there are many others who are also the same age as me and will also be undergoing circumcision, I feel less anxious,” he said.
He also said jokingly, “I’m going to be ‘orang bujang’ (entering the teenager stage) soon.
Sunti Bohari, 38, was more excited as she was able to accompany her son for the circumcision procedure.
Before that, she was all smiles while recording the ‘bersiram’ ceremony from afar, where her son was participating.
“This is not a first-time experience for my son, but it is for me too, seeing my son brace his fear to go for circumcision.
“My 12-year-old son, Furqan Hanif Mohamad Herman, goes to school at SK Semalatong, Simunjan, and since last year I have wanted to take him for circumcision but he was not ready then.
“As a mother, I always explain to him that circumcision is an obligation for Muslims and it is also good for hygiene. Alhamdulillah, this year he did not refuse to be circumcised,” she said.
The mother of two added that through the mass circumcision programme, it could also save parents a lot of money.
“As far as I know, the circumcision procedure today only cost RM120, as compared to normal days when going to a specialist from a private hospital, it could roughly cost around RM1,000,” she said.
