Screenshots of the video showing the baby being flung around by the feet and thrown into the air by an unidentified man. - Video posted by ZAYL CHIA ABDULLA/Facebook
PETALING JAYA: A video of a baby being flung around by the feet in an apparent street performance in Kuala Lumpur is causing outrage on social media.
In a 90-second video uploaded by Zayl Chia Abdulla on Facebook, a Caucasian man is seen holding a baby by the feet and swinging the infant around in wide circles and above his head.
The man, who is wearing a white T-shirt and shorts, swings the baby to a trance-like beat and appears to be part of a group of Caucasians, as onlookers watch the "performance".
According to the Zayl, the incident took place in Changkat Bukit Bintang.
An onlooker can be heard shouting,"Mana boleh ini macam!? Budak ini baru enam bulan (How could this be allowed? The kid is only six months old)."
It is unclear what the baby's relationship is to the group.
Zayl posted that he was in the area when he witnessed the "irresponsible act that can literally cause injury to that poor baby".
He questioned why such an act was allowed and called for action to be taken.
The video, which has been viewed over 11,000 times on Sunday (Feb 3), received close to 100 angry reactions, with many condemning the act.
Facebook also covered the video with a warning that "this video may show violence against a child or teenager".
In the comments, Zayl also alleged that "people are cheering for him to stop but he just pretended like nothing happened. And police? They're everywhere. But no one bothered hence I share this".
Mohamed Usman commented, "Next time I see him in the BB area... I'm going to call the cops on him. This is outrageous!"
The Star Online has contacted Zayl for a comment, but has yet to receive a reply.
Checks show that the act resembles what is called "dynastic gymnastics" or "baby yoga".
This practice of swinging babies popped up on YouTube as early as 2011.
It is believed that this practice, while controversial, is legal in Russia.
In 2011, Gawker published an article interviewing Russian Lena Fokina, who teaches baby yoga for a living.
In the article, Fokina questions why Americans find her childrearing techniques frightening, adding that "this system has been used for over thirty years in Russia and the children are all alive and healthy".
