The government today suspended a nationwide programme of whipping demonstrations in primary schools designed to discourage children from turning to crime after it drew public condemnation.

Chia Kwang Chye, deputy internal security minister, said the government would now study whether the programme should be abandoned altogether or whether changes should be incorporated into it.

The programme was introduced at schools last week in an effort to reduce rising juvenile delinquency but drew strong criticism from the nation's Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

"We are prepared to hear all the views from various parties, including Suhakam," Chia was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

'Flogging Officer Number 1'

"Flogging Officer Number 1" Iskandar Zulkarnain Mohamad Radzi, 25, from Taiping Prison in northern Perak state, staged the first whipping display before some 300 students at a local school last week on a dummy strapped to a frame.

The pupils, who were also shown photographs of the injuries inflicted by caning, told the New Straits Times they were shocked by the severity of the punishment, imposed for a wide range of crimes in Malaysia including underage sex.

Suhakam said the programme contravened international conventions on the rights of children and against torture, adding it was concerned the demonstrations would appear to legitimise cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.

"In doing so, we would be teaching our children that it is legitimate to use force on their peers either in the form of retaliation or punishment," it said. - AFP