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At the Pudu Prison exhibition in Kuala Lumpur in 1997/8, a video was shown of a reconstruction of a judicial caning -- not the same one as in the earlier Australian TV documentary. Since this was evidently made by the prison authorities themselves, it is presumed to be authentic. It might even be "the real thing" rather than a reconstruction, though from the multiplicity of camera angles in the completed film, this seems unlikely. The following stills are taken from the film:
Also in the exhibition was the padded wooden A-frame used for caning. The padding seems to have been re-upholstered since the Paul Russell picture was taken:
The following notice was on display in the caning area:
The text reads:
PUNISHMENT BY CANING
This is the compound where the caning sentences for prisoners are carried out.
Caning is done on an appointed day for all prisoners who have been given the sentence. Every prisoner is given all the strokes in one session.
The caning usually starts at 8 a.m. in the morning.
Prisoners are brought to the cells and locked up together to await their turn. They are brought out one at a time for the punishment.
The prisoner is first examined by a qualified medical doctor to determine his fitness for the punishment.
After being certified fit, the prisoner will be ordered the sentence by the Prison Superintendent.
He is then secured to the wooden harness.
After he has been properly harness [sic], a well-trained officer or warden will carry out the caning. As the strokes are being given, a senior prison officer (ASP or DSP rank) will count the number of strokes as the doctor watches the proceedings. If the caning officer misses a stroke, it is counted as delivered.
Should the prisoner faint at any stage of the caning, the doctor may stop the caning to examine the prisoner. If the prisoner is certified fit to continue, the remaining strokes will be administered. Should the doctor proclaim the prisoner to be unfit to carry on, the remaining strokes will be waived.
At the end of the caning, the prisoner is released from the harness and checked by the doctor who will also instruct the assistants to apply the necessary medical treatment on the prisoner's buttocks. If the wound is serious, the doctor will order the prisoner to be admitted to hospital.
For adults, the rattan will not be more than one half of an inch in diameter. In the case of juveniles, a light rattan will be used.
More caning pictures from the Pudu exhibition
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Copyright © C. Farrell 2002, 2009
Page updated November 2009
