A Muslim woman sentenced to be caned for drinking beer has had her punishment commuted, in a surprising turnaround for a high-profile case that raised questions about Malaysia's Islamic laws.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, a 33-year-old mother of two, received a letter yesterday from the Pahang state Islamic department informing her that the state's sultan has decided to spare her the caning.

The order is likely to cool down a fiery debate over whether Islamic laws should intrude into people's private lives in this Muslim-majority country. Many people had condemned the punishment, saying it shows conservative Islamists are gaining influence over the justice system.

Her lawyer, Adham Jamalullail, said: “As a substitution for the caning, the sultan has ordered Kartika to perform community service for three weeks.”

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