Voon joins condemnation of public caning, humiliation

MIRI: Pakatan Harapan ( PK) National Women’s chief for Sarawak affairs Voon Shiak Ni has joined the chorus of condemnation against public caning and humiliation.

This follows the public caning of two women at the Terengganu Syariah High Court on Monday after they pleaded guilty to same-sex relations.

“It was shocking and it is not something to be lauded about as being the first state to carry out public caning as this is an act which not only inflicts pain on the skin but also a lifetime scar of public humiliation, which may lead to long-term adverse psychological impact, and it is unconstitutional under the Federal Constitution,” she said in a statement yesterday.

“One may think that public caning and humiliation can be an effective deterrent but you can be ruining someone’s life forever.”

She said while the court meted out the punishment in the hope that the offenders would turn over a new leaf, the effects of public humiliation could actually run down their spirits.

“I strongly support all concerted efforts by the rights groups to call for a ban on public caning,” she said, adding the public would fear the precedent set by the incident.

Voon also pointed out the inconsistency of Malaysia’s criminal and Syariah laws on the issue of prohibition of corporal punishment on women.

“Section 289 of the Criminal Procedure Code prohibits corporal punishment against women convicts but the same punishment is allowed under Syariah law.

“We are hopeful that the issue on the said inconsistencies can be addressed accordingly to ensure that there is no infringement of human rights,” she added.