The public caning of two women in Trengganu, apparently justified under the provisions of Shariah law, raises a more general issue for Malaysia and Malaysians. Which is; can the use of religious law to inflict punishment of any kind be justified in the 21st. century?
To those who would point to Middle Eastern countries where it is in use, and allows even capital punishment, the only possible reply is that those countries are ruled by people who believe that the 7th, Century is alive and well and living amongst us.
What Malaysia has to decide is whether it is still appropriate and civilised to allow religious authorities to inflict often cruel and humiliating punishment on citizens who perform acts that are perfectly legal under Malaysian law. What anyone may think about such behaviour is their private business but barbaric punishment of this kind cures nothing and simply brings Malaysia into disrepute everywhere in the world that is not observing Islamic law as State law.
It is true that certain provisions of the Constitution might pose difficulties for any reform of the application of Shariah law but nothing is impossible and it is really aa matter for Malaysians themselves. Do they, in majority, really want the status quo? It is for the politicians to determine and to act as necessary.