Site of first public caning in Terengganu is 43-year-old mosque

KUALA TERENGGANU: The site for the first public caning in Terengganu is the mosque, Masjid Al-Muktafi Billah Shah in Jalan Sultan Mahmud here, reported Majoriti.

The 43-year-old mosque, which features Middle Eastern architecture on a 1.3ha plot, will be the focus of attention when the public caning is carried out after Friday (Nov 27) prayers.

On Thursday, when reporters from Majoriti visited the place, staff from the Terengganu Syariah Judicial Department and members of the mosque’s management committee were seen busy with preparations.

A red barrier rope has been put up from the mosque’s back door to Aasim Hall, where the offender would be whipped.

The barrier is believed to limit the movement of those selected to witness the caning.

Notices prohibiting witnesses from taking photos and videos of the caning were also posted around the hall.

Tables and chairs have also been put up near the entrance to hall for police to conduct security inspections.

On Wednesday (Dec 25), Kuala Terengganu district police chief Asst Comm Azli Mohd Noor said that about 40 officers and personnel would be on duty at the mosque to ensure the security and smoothness of the punishment process.

He said that only 70 individuals were allowed to enter the room where the whipping was carried out and that they could not bring any communication devices into the hall.

So far, 13 media representatives were understood to have applied to witness the public caning.

The remaining 57 involve local religious congregations, representatives of the Terengganu people and representatives of NGOs and government agencies.

The Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court handed down the sentence on Nov 20 after a widower with five children, Mohd Affendi Awang, 42, pleaded guilty to repeated khalwat offences under Section 31 (a) of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Takzir) (Terengganu) Enactment Amendment 2022 for khalwat.