The two women, aged 22 and 32, were sentenced to public lashing by the court after they confessed to their crime.

They were arrested by Islamic enforcement officers in April for violating Shariah laws.

Over a 100 people gathered to watch the order being carried out, which has been described as 'cruel and unjust'.

Gay sex is prohibited in Islam.

Apart from the caning, they were fined 3,300 ringgit (797 USD) each.

Meanwhile, Muslim Lawyers Association deputy president Abdul Rahim Sinwan justified the punishment, stating that it wasn't humiliation.

"Humiliation is out of the question, to hurt the person is out of the question. They were brought through different doors, they were taken out through different doors, as the purpose is not to humiliate the person,” he told Malay Mail.

“Now, basically when you talk about caning in Shariah courts, the fallacy among people outside is that the caning is meant to hurt the person. That’s the fallacy.

“In Shariah caning, it is not meant to hurt the person. It is to educate the person. Therefore it’s not painful, it’s not harsh. It’s not meant to hurt the person," he said.

The punishment lasted an approximately 20 minutes.

According to reports, this is the first time women have been lashed in public in Malaysia for violating a Shariah law.

Condemning the actions, Amnesty International said: "The public caning of the two women in Malaysia is a dreadful reminder of the depth of discrimination LGBTI people face in the country and a sign that the new government condones the use of inhuman and degrading punishments, much like its predecessor."

Malaysia has been openly hostile towards the LGBTQ community.

Last month, Islamic Affairs Minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa asked officials to remove the photos of two Gay activists from a public photo exhibition.

"[Malaysia] cannot accept LGBT being promoted because that is against the society norms," the minister was quoted as saying in the media. 

Warning its citizens, the UK foreign office has issued an advisory, asking them to stay away from public display of affection in Malaysia.

"Homosexual acts are illegal in Malaysia and punishable under federal law, and in some states, shari’a law," the statement read.

"You should avoid any behaviour which could attract unwanted attention, including public displays of affection."

Image: Screengrab from YouTube