Akmal said caning would serve as an invaluable lesson that would help schoolchildren understand the consequences of their actions, and become upstanding members of society.

“Which is why we agree that teachers should be empowered again to cane students. If there is no fear (of teachers), it would be difficult for respect to be earned,” he said.

“And in the end we produce insolent individuals,” Sinar Harian quoted him as saying.

Government guidelines for caning in schools provide for only the headmaster or an authorised teacher to administer the punishment, which must be carried out in private.

Caning is permitted only for male pupils aged 10 to 18, and the cane used must be light, serving an educational purpose rather than to inflict injury. Schoolgirls are exempt.

The punishment also cannot be carried out in public or during school assemblies.

Earlier today, it was reported that four Form 5 students in Alor Gajah, Melaka, were arrested over the gang rape of a Form 3 girl in a classroom at their school.

Two of the suspects reportedly watched and recorded the incident with their phones.

Akmal’s call for caning to be reintroduced comes a little over a month after a similar proposal was made by a Bersatu politician.

Hulu Terengganu MP Rosol Wahid said caning would be a preventive measure against bullying.