A public official in Indonesia apologizes after getting criticism from citizens when she said women sharing swimming pools can get pregnant from “strong sperms.”
Sitti Hikmawatty, commissioner of Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), released a press release admitting she made an “inaccurate statement.”
“It was a personal statement and not from the KPAI,” she said.
During her eight-minute interview with Tribunnews.com, she expressed her concern among women who can be pregnant even without penetration.
She said, “no one knows for sure how men react to the sight of women in a swimming pool.”
She further reiterated that this type of pregnancy can happen to women who are already sexually active.
“If women are in a phase where they are sexually active, [such a pregnancy] may occur. No one knows for sure how men react to the sight of women in a swimming pool.”
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) explained that it is impossible for them to get pregnant in a swimming pool.
“The water in swimming pools […] contains chlorine and other chemicals,” IDI Executive Nazar said during an interview. “Sperm cannot survive in these conditions.”
The KPAI commissioner said her statement was hers and from the organization.
“I plead with all parties not to disseminate it further or even make it available,” she said.