KUCHING, Sept 4: The public canning of two women by the Terengganu Syariah High Court yesterday has again tainted another chapter in this nation’s history, says Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
Calling it cruel, inhumane and downright degrading, Dr Yii said he was very disturbed that the Terengganu state exco claimed that public caning will no longer shock the people anymore after this.
“What transpired yesterday was somehow treated like a public spectacle executed in front of more than 100 attendees who gathered in the courtroom to witness the event.
“I cannot imagine what went through the minds of not just those who allowed this to happen, but also were there to actually witness such an inhumane act towards another human being, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the acts,” he said in a statement today.
In his opinion, Dr Yii said “no matter how many times this is done, or how common this practice may become, we must not allow ourselves to ever be desensitised and accepting of such an inhumane, cruel and degrading act against another human being.”
As a nation, he added that Malaysia have a long way to go until even the rights of the minorities are treated with not just respect, but given the dignity and honour all human beings deserve.
The women who pleaded guilty to attempting to have same-sex relations were caned six times at the Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court.
The sentence was conducted behind closed doors in the courtroom after it was read out by Syariah High Court Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail and witnessed by State Syariah chief judge Wan Mohd Zakri Wan Mohd and state senior Syariah judge Rosdi Harun. — DayakDaily
