The amendment made to the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment allows courts the discretion to rule if the caning should be carried out in public or in prison, as was previously the case.

“The amendment is in accordance with the religion, as in Islam the sentencing must be done in public,” Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah was quoted as saying after the closing of the state assembly in Kota Bharu today.

According to the daily, the amendment to the law was proposed by state Islamic Development, Dakwah and Information Committee chairman Nassuruddin Daud and seconded by state Women, Family and Welfare Committee chairman Mumtaz Md Nawi.

Nassuruddin told the assembly that he wished to table the amendments as it had been a long time since any changes had been made to the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment.

“It has been 15 years since the enactment was made and there have been many developments in the time.

“Among the amendments are the introduction of public canings and the acceptance of video and other electronic equipment as evidence in court trials.

“The other amendments are technical in nature like how the caning will be carried out and so on,” he was quoted as saying by NST.