The Kelantan government is mulling a demonstration of public caning in accordance with the punishment described under the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, or Act 355.

Kelantan exco member Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the demonstration is intended to promote understanding on how the punishment is carried out.

"We are studying on demonstrating how public caning in Islam (is carried out) so as to promote understanding and correct perception.

"The punishment is only to educate... not to hurt," he told journalists after a forum in Kuala Lumpur today.

The proposal comes amid attempts by PAS to amend Act 355.

The amendment seeks to increase the punishment that can be meted out by the Syariah courts from three years' imprisonment, RM5,000 fine and six strokes of the rotan to 30 years' imprisonment, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the rotan.

Mohamed Fadzli complained that there are those who were out to paint PAS' efforts as being obsessed with punishments.

"They claim that what the Kelantan government is doing is only focused on punishment, as if Islam is only out to punish," he said.

Earlier during a forum, Mohamed Fadzli rebutted critics who said the Kelantan state government was in a haste to implement stricter syariah punishments.

He said PAS has governed Kelantan for 23 years, and they had taken that time to educate about syariah punishments.

He argued that a study now showed that 90 percent of Kelantan residents supported the move to implement syariah criminal law in the state.

"Five times we (PAS) have received the mandate to rule Kelantan with the package of syariah criminal law," he added.

Malaysia Syariah Lawyers Association (PGSM) president Musa Awang, who was also a panelist at the forum, said almost all syariah lawyers in the country also agreed with the planned amendments to Act 355.

"There is a small group, it is not that they disagree for (Act 355) to be amended. They agree in principle, but they have voiced disagreements with the rate of punishment and other issues.

"There are also some who may disagree because of political leanings, so they follow their party stance," he added.

Other panelists at the forum were Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association (PPMM) president Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar and Kelantan strategic research centre director Wan Nik Wan Yussof.