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No plans to criminalise caning of minors, says deputy minister

Putrajaya is not planning to criminalise caning of minors in the new Child Act as long as the action does not leave any physical and emotional trauma.

However, the new legislation will do away with whipping for minor offenders.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said the existing provision in the current Child Act which criminalised the act of abusing, abandoning, neglecting or exposing children to physical, mental and emotional trauma would be retained.

Those found guilty of abusing children can be fined up to RM25,000 or a maximum of 10 years' jail or both.

"The ministry has no plans to have a specific provision to criminalise caning under the new Child Act," she told Datuk Sapawi Ahmad Wasali (BN-Sipitang) during Question Time in Parliament today.

"This means any action by parents or the families to discipline the children lightly will not be made an offence under the new act."

However, she said the ministry was mulling over the need to increase the fine and punishment for those found guilty of abusing, abandoning and neglecting children, including introducing whipping.

She said the proposal to do away with whipping for minor offenders was because of concerns over the negative trauma suffered by the children.

"In line with the new Child Act, the ministry will have continuous consultations with stakeholders and NGOs until the bill is tabled in Parliament," she added.

The ministry had early this year caused an uproar when it mooted that caning a child could be an offence under the new act, raising a storm of protests from politicians and NGOs who had pressed for a review of the proposal.

Following that, the ministry clarified that it did not mean to outlaw all forms of caning of children and that instead, the proposal would see a more detailed provision on actions which cause physical or mental injuries to children, including caning. – March 16, 2015.