Amnesty International Condemns The Use Of Canning In Malaysia

Canning as a punishment was brought to Malaysia during its Colonial Rule by the British. In a report issued today by Amnesty International canning has become so wide spread in the country that thousands of people are canned for infractions that would not be considered crimes anywhere else.

“Caning in Malaysia has hit epidemic proportions,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director. “In every case that we examined, the punishment amounted to torture, which is absolutely prohibited under any circumstances.”

In recent years, Malaysia has increased the number of penal offenses subject to caning to more than 60. Since 2002, when Parliament made immigration violations such as illegal entry subject to caning, tens of thousands of refugees and migrant workers have been caned.

Canning civilians who are refugees is considered torture under international conventions.

In Malaysian prisons specially trained caning officers tear into victims’ bodies with a metre-long cane swung with both hands at high speed. The cane rips into the victim’s naked skin, pulps the fatty tissue below, and leaves scars that extend to muscle fibre. The pain is so severe that victims often lose consciousness.

For doctors employed by the state the adage "First Do No Harm" doses not apply as they are complicit in the practice by declaring those slated for punishment are health as well as reviving those who have passed out from the pain inflicted upon them.