Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has condemned the caning sentence meted out to illegal immigrants as inhuman and ineffective.
"Whipping someone with a cane is cruel, inhuman and degrading. International standards make clear that such treatment constitutes torture. Such a punishment should have no place in today's world," said AI in a press statement today.
Caning sentences have been made mandatory for illegal immigrants found to have committed an offence under the amended Immigration Act which took effect on Aug 1.
Under new provisions of the law, illegal immigrants found guilty of passport violations will be liable to a maximum fine of RM10,000, a jail term not exceeding five years and whipping of up to six strokes.
To date, at least 15 persons have been found guilty and given punishments of six months in jail and whipping of between one and two stokes each.
AI also expressed concern over the possibility that hundreds more undocumented workers and asylum seekers will be whipped over their illegal presence in Malaysia.
"Over a dozen more cases will reportedly be brought to court next week, and scores of other cases are being investigated," said the organisation.
Abolish corporal punishment
According to the human rights watchdog, the threat of being caned is unlikely to be effective in deterring economic migrants or asylum seekers from entering the country.
"Undocumented workers are ignorant of procedures and are themselves often victims of deceit at the hands of migrant worker traffickers or unscrupulous employers," added AI.
Meanwhile, AI also called upon the Malaysian government to abolish the use of corporal punishment in law for all other crimes.
The organisation added that caning is currently applicable to at least 40 crimes in Malaysia ranging from sexual abuse to drug possession.
AI cited a report by another human rights organisation, Suaram, which found that the number of persons sentenced to be whipped decreased from 53 in 2000 to 13 persons last year.
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