"Spare the rod, spoil the child."

Many Asean parents hold this saying close to their hearts.

It's not uncommon for parents here to spank or come up with other creative forms of punishment including using a rattan rod, slippers, a wooden cooking spoon, a rolled up newspaper, a belt, a ruler or multiple slaps and pinches to discipline their children.

This method, however, could be a thing of the past in China.

According to a report by Mashable SEA, China may enforce strict laws banning corporal punishement against children soon.

A law for some time now

Corporal punishement here means physical punishment intended to cause physical pain to a person.

In China, corporal punishment was actually banned in 1986 but the law was never enforced properly.

Now, the authorities say that the new regulation not only makes it illegal for parents to enforce physical pain but emcompasses mental abuse as well.

This includes "verbally berating them, forcing them to kneel and beg for forgiveness, or confining them in closed spaces during time-outs" explained the article.

According to the new law, parents also are prohibited from discriminating against children based on their physical conditions or gender.

If parents refuse to adhere to the law, they may go to jail or lose guardianship to their children.

We think this is a great way to protect kids from being abused but we can already here some aunties and uncles saying "some kids just need a tight slap".

What do you think about this new law?

Would it work ever work in Malaysia?