KUALA LUMPUR: A viral video of a young barefoot girl tied tightly in cloth has sparked outrage, confusion and heated debate among Malaysians online.
The 23-second clip, posted to Facebook by user Halim Mohammad, shows the child, believed to be four or five years old, standing silently as onlookers gather around.
Her arms are restrained within the cloth, though her legs appear free enough to move slightly.
Bystanders in the footage can be heard questioning her, but the girl remains mostly unresponsive.
Towards the end, a man is heard suggesting she should be taken to the police station.
No information was given on when or where the incident took place, but the video has since gone viral, gaining over 800,000 views, 21,700 likes, 1,300 comments and 2,100 shares.
Some netizens expressed frustration at those present in the video for not untying the child.
“What’s the point of standing around? Just untie her!” wrote Facebook user Chik Nor.
But others urged caution, arguing that bystanders may have feared tampering with potential evidence.
“Maybe people didn’t want to undo the cloth because they thought it might be linked to a criminal case. Better to let the police handle it first,” replied user Pak Kyo.
Another user, Wanie Ijan, defended the onlookers, adding: “Do you think people walk around carrying scissors or knives everywhere? It’s easy to criticise from behind a screen.”
Many comments speculated that the girl could be autistic, with several users sharing their own experiences of raising children with special needs.
“If I am not mistaken, the child may have autism and tends to put random things into her mouth. Maybe that is why she was tied up,” wrote Asnah Ahmad, though she added that the family should find alternative methods.
Another netizen, Junaidah Ismail, expressed concern that leaving her bound outside posed other risks.
“She cannot pick things up when tied, but what if she comes across someone with bad intentions? I hope it is not a babysitter. It is heartbreaking.”
Abdul Qayyum Dzolfakar, a parent of an autistic child, said he understood the struggles but did not agree with the approach.
“My son also likes to pick up and put things into his mouth, but I have never tied him like this. The parents must be very stressed to reach this point. May things be eased for them.”
Others, like Nurul Aisyatul Adnan, stressed that restraint should only be done under careful supervision.
“As far as I know, you don’t need to tie them … just wrapping can calm them down. But how did this child get outside unsupervised?” she asked.
Some commenters defended the method, arguing it might have been done carefully and with the child’s comfort in mind.
“Those saying it is cruel should think twice. Her hands were wrapped with cloth, not rope, so there are no marks. Her legs were not tied and she looked well cared for. This was not abuse but restraint for a reason,” said Adek Sofiya.
User Suria Azizan added that such restraint is sometimes used as a therapeutic technique.
“Children with autism who are hyperactive or aggressive may be tied briefly to calm them down. It is not necessarily abuse,” she said.
Others, like Naq Agro Farm, urged compassion rather than condemnation.
“Parents of special children need support, not punishment. Don’t judge until you have walked in their shoes.”
As of now, no statement has been released by the authorities regarding the video.
