It is a real shame that everywhere in the world (with the exception of some Islamic countries) that caning is still used as a form of punishment.

Have they not moved from the medieval age to modern psychology and human development, by encouraging good personal habits and value is by persuasion and education?

Why punish Kartina when she already paid the heavy fine of RM5,000?

Six lashes of the cane is almost equivalent to that imposed on rapists depending on the severity of the violence perpetrated on the victim.

Who has Kartina violated and what pain has she caused on anyone? Besides having her two children to bear the thought that their poor mother would be caned soon, how would other countries perceive Malaysia?

PRM's sympathies are with her and her children and may they be protected from the evils of men who use punitive punishment in the name of God's law.

May she be spared and set free from canning and imprisonment.

[Dr Rohana Ariffin is vice-president of Parti Rakyat Malayia (PRM)]