Caning Should Return To Schools Under Strict Rules But That S My Opinion Pm

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PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed his personal views on caning in schools, saying it should be brought back, but with strict conditions.
ADSHe shared that back when he was a teacher, he himself had caned tens of students.
“Regarding caning, I have voiced my personal opinion. It should be returned, but with strict conditions, not public caning,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Anwar was responding to RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong), who asked whether the government would consider suggestions to reintroduce caning in schools.
During the debates on the recently tabled Budget 2026, several MPs, including DAP veteran Lim Guan Eng (Harapan-Bagan), Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), and Azli Yusof (Harapan-Shah Alam), supported calls to cane students who misbehaved.
Bagan MP Lim Guan EngBersatu’s Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) had also proposed reintroducing corporal punishment in schools in August.
This is despite Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said saying that same month that the government is studying the abolishment of mandatory caning sentences in the criminal justice system.
Strict conditions
Speaking further, Anwar said the conditions should include caning falling under the power of specific teachers and that it should be done in a specific room, such as the disciplinary room.
The maximum number of strokes should also be clarified, he added.
“But this is just an opinion, not a government policy.
“I believe it (caning) should be considered, refined, and engagement with all parties should be handled by the education minister before we finalise it,” he said.
However, he noted that human rights groups have rejected the suggestion as they consider caning a form of abuse.
ADS“Friends at Suhakam gave a rather harsh opinion, rejecting any action that is considered abuse.
“But because of that, we must discuss it with everyone," he said.
Rosol initially suggested returning caning after the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, linked to alleged bullying in Sabah.
A spate of cases involving teenagers committing serious crimes has brought the issue back into public discussion.
Recently, a male student fatally stabbed a Form Four girl at a school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya.
There were also two recent reports of gang rapes involving students - one in Kedah, and the other in Malacca. - Mkini

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