Malaysia 'seems to be turning its back on FGM'

A Malaysian doctor who has transformed a facility used for female genital mutilation (FGM) into a fully functional clinical establishment hopes it is symbolic of the country's abandonment of the practice.

Mahammad Yassin told Bikyamasr.com that his new surgery is now helping the rural community just on the outskirts of Ipoh in central Malaysia, but in the past it was at the centre of an outbreak of female cutting.

He explained that many girls were the victims of misguided parents.

One such girl named as Asha told the site: "It was the scariest day of my life and I still have nightmares of the blood and the pain."

Dr Yassin argued that the experiences of victims such as Asha are helping the community to understand that FGM is a "dangerous practice", with a "destructive capability", but isolated incidents still occur.

According to the World Health Organization, as well as severe bleeding, FGM leads to problems urinating, while cysts, infections and infertility can also occur as a result of the procedure.