JAKARTA, Indonesia — Two months after Indonesia’s most conservative province drew international headlines for publicly caning two young gay men for having sex with each other, the governor is considering making such whippings private to avoid negative news media attention and prevent any adverse impact on outside investment.

The proposed changes in Aceh Province have caused a stir in Indonesia ever since local news media reported that President Joko Widodo had met with the newly inaugurated governor, Irwandi Yusuf, to discuss ways to improve the province’s international image.

In an interview with the local media, Vice Governor Nova Iriansyah said that because of the international attention on public whippings: “We will minimalize press coverage and conduct it inside prisons. Right now it’s in front of the mosque, right after Friday prayers.”

He added, “I think the national government is right that we have to do something.”

In a statement, the governor’s office emphasized the provisional nature of the discussions to end public canings, noting that the decision required approval from Muslim scholars and Aceh’s legislature.