Unhappy Muslims Want Viral FB Post On Public Abuse Removed But Readers Want It To Stay
"My rant about seeing this in Asia is how people are a lot more precious about their "face value" and reputation that it's better not to do anything," says the witness Beatrice Leong.
By Anabelle Ong — 15 May 2015, 12:51 PM — Updated over 9 years ago
A Facebook post by Beatrice Leong, detailing an incident when a man was seen hitting his partner three times on the head before boarding a plane, has been shared by 6,228 people since 11 May. In her post, Leong remarked on the hopelessness of the “Asian mentality”, as bystanders did not just do nothing about the abuse, she was also stopped by two other witnesses when she reprimanded the man for hitting his partner.
"Boarding on a Malindo Airlines flight from BKI to KUL on OD1003. This man on the right repeatedly slapped the lady in tudung on her head a few times over - I heard about 3 smacks and turn around to see his hand moving towards her head again. It was a loud smack that we all could hear and shocked me enough to turn around. Lady was crying as they walked to board the plane.
Many others including myself saw it and no one seems to care or was too busy staring at their phones to notice! When I told him off and raised my voice - the two men told me to hush and not to create trouble. They then pat the man in red on the back and told him to just calm down, bincang nanti and looked over to the girl and said Sudah, Sudah. Girl looked at me and told me "no no it's ok. Sudah biasa takpe masalah sahaja".
They then also turned around and told me that people have troubles, don't worry about it, and asked if I really did see it? How have we as a society - and unfortunately I see this much more in an Asian society, turn a blind eye even when something that is obviously wrong happening right in front of you?
I am so sad that we let a man hit a woman in public and let him get away with it. I am sad that when confronted this woman who was hit, think it's ok for her partner (which I am assuming he is) to treat her like that in public. I am annoyed that Malindo staff standing right at the door of the plane said nothing and allow this man to board the flight," said Bea Meow whose real name is Beatrice Leong, a 31-year-old documentary film maker in her Facebook post.
facebook.com
Outraged by the "mind your own business" mentality demonstrated in the post, readers took to the comments section to express their opinions. The general reaction was that the man should not have hit the woman in public.
Some looked at the bigger picture, saying that violence should not be perpetrated in any situation at all, no matter how serious
Some even blamed the woman for putting up with the abuse, even going as far as to suggest that it was deemed "acceptable" by the woman herself because the Quran dictates that a man has the right to discipline his wife
Nonetheless, many thought it was irrelevant to blame religion in regards to the man's actions. It's basic common sense to respect each other and to stand up against abuse.
Many even related their own personal experiences of being discouraged for trying to stop an abuser
On 13 May, it was reported that Leong has been receiving private messages from unhappy readers who are mostly Muslim demanding that she take down the post. They defended the man and Islam and told her to mind her own business, saying that she does not understand the Quran and 'Asian values'.
Beatrice Leong, 31, claimed today that Muslims have been writing in privately to her to defend the man and school her on Islam. As a result, Leong said she now plans to remove it.
“Suddenly I have people who are messaging me on my Facebook ― ‘Jangan jaga tepi kain orang’ (Mind your own business), typical stuff that say I don't understand the Quran,” Leong said in a phone interview.
themalaymailonline.com
“A lot of them tell me that in the Quran, there is this thing where the husband can discipline the wife. First he can advise her, then refuse to share the matrimonial bed. Then if that doesn't work out, then he can lightly tap her, a form of beating, to discipline,” the 31-year-old documentary filmmaker added.
The filmmaker said the mostly Malay-Muslims who privately messaged her on Facebook have also accused her of not understanding Asian values. “We do care about our reputation ― it’s not a bad thing, but in situations like that, Asians need to learn to step up and be vocal. Instead of moving conversations on Facebook, why don't you do this in real life?” Leong questioned.
However, many readers are of the opinion that the post should not be taken down, saying that Leong's bravery is inspiring and that the post serves as a reminder to society on their roles in stopping acts of domestic violence
