The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has called on the federal government to intervene in Kelantan's move to introduce public whipping for syariah offences.

Suhakam chairperson Razali Ismail said the federal government must ensure that "human rights are respected throughout the country".

Razali said caning was a "cruel, inhuman and degrading" punishment that violated prohibitions against torture in human rights treaties that Malaysia had signed.