Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, who escaped caning for drinking beer, gave herself up to the Islamic religious authorities today to begin a three-week community service at a children's home.

NONEThe 33-year-old mother of two, was sentenced last year to six lashes and a fine by a religious court in in a case that triggered outrage among rights groups.

A teary-eyed Kartika gave herself up to the religious enforcement office in Pahang - where she was caught drinking in a hotel bar - after the state ruler decided to commute her sentence.

"I am ready to accept my punishment. I am strong," Kartika told reporters. "I am going to miss my two children the most."

"My sister and mother will take care of them. I will do whatever is asked of me."

Kartika said she will care for two boys, aged six and eight years with a hole-in-the-heart and autism, after completion of her punishment.

According to Bernama, the part-time model arrived at Pahang Islamic Department (JAIP) at  8.45am and was briefed on what was expected of her.

Kartika was accompanied by her father Shukarno Abdul Mutalib, sister Ratna Sari Dewi and uncle Amlir Hayat.

Kartika took a bus from her home in Kuala Kangsar, Perak yesterday and briefly stopped over in Kuala Lumpur before continuing her journey to Kuantan.

Kartika escorted to children's home

Religious officials declined comment as they escorted Kartika at 9.35am to the Tengku Ampuan Fatimah Children's Home, about
10km from JAIP office.

Meanwhile, Shukarno told reporters her family members accepted the decision made on Kartika.

"The punishment will not be a problem as Kartika used to be a nurse for children and old people in Singapore. I am satisfied with her guesthouse which homes with two rooms, kitchen, washroom, food and air-condition," he said.

Kartika will also be allowed to return to Perak in times of emergency
involving her children.

The Tengku Mahkota Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said yesterday Kartika escaped whipping at the discretion of the Sultan of Pahang and on humanitarian grounds.

"She (Kartika) was not pardoned of the offence but the sentence has been commuted due to the sultan's kindness," he said.

Alcohol is widely available in Malaysia but is forbidden for Muslim Malays, who make up 60 percent of the population.

They can be fined, caned, or jailed for up to three years but prosecutions are extremely rare.

Three other women were caned in February for having sex out of wedlock in the first such punishment under Islamic law in Malaysia.

The cases have fuelled debate over rising "Islamisation" of the multi-ethnic nation.

The Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association however expressed its "deepest regret" over the reduced punishment for Kartika, saying the state ruler or Pahang sultan should be defending Islamic laws.

"Syariah caning differs from civil caning which causes injury and torture on the offender. Caning under syariah law is educational, just like a father educates his child," secretary-general Abdul Halim Bahari said in a statement.

Malaysia has a dual-track legal system and Islamic courts can try Muslims for religious and moral offences.

Islamic scholars say the three women punished would have been fully clothed and that the cane was smaller and lighter than the heavy length of rattan used against rapists and murderers.

- Agencies