YAN (Kedah): The public caning approved by the Kelantan State Assembly for shariah offences should not be condemned because it is not a new thing in this country as it had once been implemented in Sabah, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom.
He said, in fact, the public should understand that the punishment would only be imposed on Muslims who commit shariah offences.
“Do not make it an issue… public caning under shariah laws has already been carried out outside the prison in Tawau (Sabah). Many people do not understand that the sentence is based on shariah law and affects only Muslims,” he told reporters after opening the Jerai Umno Youth conference in Guar Chempedak near here today.
On Wednesday, the Kelantan State Assembly passed an amendment to the Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment 2002 which among others, will allow public caning.
The bill also allows religious enforcement officers to handcuff suspects and allows video clips to be used as evidence in court.
Jamil Khir, who is also Jerai Umno division head, said caning done within prisons is also considered public because the term in Islam refers to more than two people.
“In prison, there are already more than two people, including the doctor who has come to observe, the religious officer (enforcer), the accompanying officers as well as others, and this is definitely more than two people,” he said.