Francis Paul Siah of the Movement for Change for Sarawak said PAS should keep its punitive measure for shariah offences to Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis, the states governed by the party.

Public caning was described by Saya Anak Sarawak founder Peter John Jaban as a relic of 19th century colonial rule and a barbaric practice.

“It puts Malaysia out of step with the international community and human rights advocates. It has no place in modern Malaysian society, particularly for a multi-religious country,” he said.

Siah expressed confidence that Islamic authorities in Sarawak knew what was best for the state.

“Keep your shariah rulings in your own states. Please don’t bother us in Sarawak because I’m sure our Islamic authorities are knowledgeable enough to decide for Sarawak and Sarawakians on such matters,” he said.

Siah also described public caning as an outdated medieval practice, as modern developments had shown that rehabilitation was better than retribution.

He said even Islamic scholars differed when it came to public caning, citing Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin’s view that there was no specific rule in shariah law requiring those found to be in close proximity to be publicly caned.

Peter said not all Islamic countries, including many countries in the Arab world, practised public caning for shariah offences.

On Friday, the Kelantan government said it was considering the possibility of carrying out public caning for shariah criminal offences, and PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin had urged all states to follow Terengganu’s lead in publicly caning a man convicted of khalwat.

Affendi Awang, 42, was caned six times in front of 90 witnesses at the Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Mosque in Kuala Terengganu last Friday.