Netizens appear equally divided over the prospect of parents not being able to cane their children, after the government said it is mooting to criminalise the practice.

Asked on Malaysiakini 's Facebook page about what readers thought, some praised Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim for the proposal , while others derided her for trying to take away what has been a norm.

Rohani ( right ) was quoted as saying that although caning is considered a Malaysian culture in disciplining children, Malaysia still needs to comply with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which views the caning of children seriously.

Facebook user Andrew Chan noted that criminalising caning will put teachers in a difficult position.

"Mayhem and hell will break loose. How a parent brings up his child - including caning - is a personal choice," he said.

However, Nazhid Wan Yusoff, a former teacher, said caning did little to resolve disciplinary problems.

"I've seen plenty of my students being caned for smoking and other offenses. Often times, caning bears little result as the students are - more likely than not - repeat offenders.

"I say scrap it and find alternative means of educating and disciplining our kids," she added.

Meanwhile, Letishia Miranda said the proverbial saying "spare the rod and spoil the child" is a myth.

"Caning only inflicts pain and fear and creates resentment... You don't need a cane to raise your children, you need to be a role model," she stressed.

'Caned plenty and still fine'

Begging to differ is Leon Tan, who pointed out that he has had a share of caning during his school days, and grew up to be perfectly normal.

"I'm not mentally scarred in any way.

"Kids need to know consequences. The kids today don't know that. Better done at school than in jail a few years later," he said.

Echoing this is Aldy Lee, who said he got "caned plenty" for playing truant.

"I don't see any of us hooligans turning out bad or mentally scarred at all, but the young ones these days are a pretty messed up bunch," he noted.

However, Naza Majid said parents should not rely on teachers to discipline their children, including by caning them.

"Parents should be taught how to love their children. And never to rely on teachers to discipline your children. That is not their job.

"I talk to them if there is a problem... I smack them but not caning or belting," he stressed.

Malaysia is a signatory of the CRC, and a draft law to replace the current Child Act 2001 is in the works to bring the new law in line with the convention.