KUANTAN - ABOUT 500 people in Pahang were shown a live demonstration on Sunday on how a woman is caned under Islamic law in the state.

It was performed on a fully dressed mannequin with a tudung (headscarf) in Pahang's Religious Department hall, New Straits Times said yesterday.

The demonstration was part of a seminar on Islamic law organised by 14 Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Pahang. It was meant to show the public the difference between caning on men done in criminal cases and on women if carried out under orders by the Islamic court. Women are not caned in criminal cases in Malaysia.

A part-time model, Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, was in July fined RM5,000 (S$2,060) and ordered to be caned six times by the Pahang Syariah High Court, after pleading guility to consuming alcohol at a hotel last year. Her sentence has been postponed and it is not clear when it will be carried out.

The court's decision has received widespread media attention and even attracted criticism in Malaysia. But many Muslim groups have backed the punishment and asked the critics not to interfere with laws meant for Muslims.

A resolution adopted at the seminar by the Muslim NGOs urged all parties to respect the syariah law and decisions made by the courts, NST said.