PUTRAJAYA – Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar says caning as a punishment in Malaysia should be reviewed.
According to a report by The Star, Wan Junaidi said this was because such punishment was inhumane and outdated.
He said caning was introduced during the colonial era, but many countries no longer implemented it as a form of punishment.
"Punishment through caning needs to be reviewed holistically. It is too much and inhumane for a person to get whipped 15 times because it only takes two to three whips for the skin to come off.
"We inherited caning from the colonial masters. Britain has also stopped implementing caning so why are we still practicing it,” he was quoted saying.
He said this during the Keluarga Malaysia Symposium at Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), in Putrajaya, today.
A technical committee will be set up to study the matter, he added.
"Input from all stakeholders will be gathered. Some might disagree with me so their views need to be listened to,” he said.