Ministry denies banning caning wholesale
Published: Jan 26, 2015 8:24 AM | Updated: Jan 26, 2015 12:39 PM
The ministry has clarified that the suggestion to criminalise caning of children is not a wholesale ban on general disciplining.
In a statement on Friends of BN’s Facebook last night, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry clarified reports of minister Rohani Abdul Karim reportedly telling the media last Saturday that caning children would be made illegal.
The ministry has clarified that the suggestion to criminalise caning of children is not a wholesale ban on general disciplining.
In a statement on Friends of BN’s Facebook last night, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry clarified reports of minister Rohani Abdul Karim reportedly telling the media last Saturday that caning children would be made illegal.
The ministry said the said amendments were aimed at abolishing the punishment of caning meted out by courts against offenders who were minors.
“In line with the suggestion for abolishing the punishment of caning by the courts, the ministry has studied general acts of (disciplinary) caning children in society.
“At this point, the suggested new provisions in the Childs Act 2001 does not mean every act of caning (a child) is a criminal offence,” said the ministry’s corporate communications department.
Yesterday Rohani was reported saying that while caning is a norm to discipline children in Malaysia, the country needs to comply with international laws.
"Even though caning children is part of our culture, but we need to comply with the CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child) which views this matter seriously," Utusan Online quoted her saying yesterday.
The ministry clarified that what was proposed in the new act was for a more detailed provision on actions which cause physical or mental injuries to children including caning.
"The ministry is studying and scrutinising the proposal so that the legislation will cover all acts against children causing physical and emotional injuries deemed as criminal offences which could be punishable with heftier imprisonment or fines.
"Besides, the ministry is also considering alternative punishment such as community service or counseling or parenting courses," said the ministry in a Bernama report.
KPWKM also clarified that the action of refining the law was in line with the previous proposal to abolish Section 91(1)(g) of the Child Act 2001 where the court is allowed to conduct caning on children found guilty.
Following several newpapers reporting Rohani’s earlier remarks, several parties asked for clarification and called the ministry to review the proposal.
In this regard, the ministry also explained that the proposal to abolish caning at the court level was in line with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child(CRC).
"At the same time, Section 91(1)(g) of the Child Act 2001 allows a male child to be sentenced to caning not more than 10 strokes if found guilty of criminal offences. On this, caning in court is different from caning in the house or in school.
"Caning in court is carried out according to procedures set by law. However, based on pyschological development in line with CRC, the ministry proposes to abolish the punishment," the statement said.
In a statement on Friends of BN’s Facebook last night, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry clarified reports of minister Rohani Abdul Karim reportedly telling the media last Saturday that caning children would be made illegal.
The ministry said the said amendments were aimed at abolishing the punishment of caning meted out by courts against offenders who were minors.“In line with the suggestion for abolishing the punishment of caning by the courts, the ministry has studied general acts of (disciplinary) caning children in society.
“At this point, the suggested new provisions in the Childs Act 2001 does not mean every act of caning (a child) is a criminal offence,” said the ministry’s corporate communications department.
Yesterday Rohani was reported saying that while caning is a norm to discipline children in Malaysia, the country needs to comply with international laws.
"Even though caning children is part of our culture, but we need to comply with the CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child) which views this matter seriously," Utusan Online quoted her saying yesterday.
The ministry clarified that what was proposed in the new act was for a more detailed provision on actions which cause physical or mental injuries to children including caning.
"The ministry is studying and scrutinising the proposal so that the legislation will cover all acts against children causing physical and emotional injuries deemed as criminal offences which could be punishable with heftier imprisonment or fines.
"Besides, the ministry is also considering alternative punishment such as community service or counseling or parenting courses," said the ministry in a Bernama report.
KPWKM also clarified that the action of refining the law was in line with the previous proposal to abolish Section 91(1)(g) of the Child Act 2001 where the court is allowed to conduct caning on children found guilty.
Following several newpapers reporting Rohani’s earlier remarks, several parties asked for clarification and called the ministry to review the proposal.
In this regard, the ministry also explained that the proposal to abolish caning at the court level was in line with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child(CRC).
"At the same time, Section 91(1)(g) of the Child Act 2001 allows a male child to be sentenced to caning not more than 10 strokes if found guilty of criminal offences. On this, caning in court is different from caning in the house or in school.
"Caning in court is carried out according to procedures set by law. However, based on pyschological development in line with CRC, the ministry proposes to abolish the punishment," the statement said.
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