In a landmark case, a father of five is set to make history as the first man to be publicly caned at a mosque in Terengganu for repeated khalwat (close proximity) offences. Mohd Affendi Awang, 42, a carpenter, received a sentence of six strokes of the cane from the Terengganu Syariah High Court after pleading guilty to his third offence.
The punishment, which is set to take place at the Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Mosque in Kuala Terengganu on December 6, follows a string of previous convictions. Senior Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail emphasized the importance of the sentence in serving as both a deterrent and an educational reminder.
“A believer does not fall into the same hole twice,” the judge remarked, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Despite previous caning and imprisonment for similar offences, Affendi was once again caught committing khalwat, this time with a 52-year-old woman at a house in Kemaman during the early hours of June 16, 2024.
Affendi was charged under Section 31(a) of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Takzir) (Terengganu) Enactment (Amendment) 2022. In addition to the corporal punishment, he was fined RM4,000, failing which he would face six months’ imprisonment.
This is not Affendi’s first brush with the law for such offences. Last year, he was fined RM2,700 and jailed for three months for his first khalwat conviction. Earlier this year, he was sentenced to four strokes of the cane and fined RM3,000 for a second offence.
The Syariah law in Terengganu, amended in 2022, allows for harsher penalties for repeat offenders, including up to six strokes of the cane, a fine of RM5,000, or imprisonment of up to three years.
The punishment, scheduled to be carried out after Friday prayers, has sparked widespread attention and debate. While some view it as a necessary measure to uphold Islamic principles and deter repeat offences, others question the implications of public caning on personal dignity and societal perceptions.
Affendi's case, prosecuted by Deputy Chief Syariah Prosecutor Nik Mohd Shahril Irwan Mat Yusof, underscores the state’s commitment to enforcing Syariah law. However, the accused was unrepresented, raising concerns about access to legal representation in such cases.
As the day of punishment nears, this case has ignited discussions about the balance between justice, rehabilitation, and the public’s role in observing religious law enforcement.
The question remains whether this high-profile punishment will deter others or fuel further discourse on the evolving role of Syariah law in Malaysia.
By: Kpost
Information Source: TheStar
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