CANING women is legal and the Terengganu punishment should be respected, Amanah women chief Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said today.

She said Malaysia has accepted a dual legal system and all parties should respect the decision.

“What is important is that the implementation of the law was fair and done without fear or favour,” said Dr Siti in a statement today.

The Sri Serdang assemblyman was responding to a statement by the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality that urged the government to review caning punishments in shariah law.

“The caning punishment in shariah has existed since 2001 and has been used in other shariah courts throughout the country.

“A such, JAG’s request for a single criminal code is irrelevant,” said Dr Siti.

Moreover, she added, the caning meted out under shariah is different from the civil system.

“Shariah caning still protects the honour and dignity of the offender as it is meant to be educational in nature.

“The caning was also done in the Kuala Terengganu shariah courts and not a public place. The question of humiliation does not arise.”

She said the offenders had also been given the chance to appeal the sentences, but did not.

Two women were caned six times each in Kuala Terengganu after pleading guilty to same-sex relations on August 12. The women, aged 22 and 32, were also fined RM3,300.

The punishment was carried out by officers from the Kajang Prisons Department and was done at the Kuala Terengganu Shariah High Court in front of 150 people. – September 4, 2018.