It is better to defer the implementation of hudud if justice cannot be upheld, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

"No one can say hudud is irrelevant as it is God’s law but what we are talking about today is the implementation, which is far more pertinent in the Islamic context of justice. If we cannot do justice in implementing hudud, then it is better if we defer," he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today .

Speaking at the National Aspiration and Leadership Summit 2016 yesterday, Asyraf said the burden of proof in hudud was so great that it was almost impossible to prosecute anyone.

He said the strict requirements imposed, such as the number of witnesses required and their character, gave the impression that God did not want anyone to be punished.

Asyraf also said Umno has been clear on hudud that it could not be implemented in the country due to the Malaysian context, but would do so gradually.

He also took a veiled jab at PAS for its apparent obsession with implementing hudud.

“For the purpose of power, one party has been highlighting implementing hudud as if it embodies what Islam is about rather than promoting concepts of justice, transparency, good governance which are more pertinent than the six kinds of punishment,” he said.

PAS has been pushing to get hudud implemented in Kelantan for decades.

Last year, the state approved a bill to amend the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code II 1993, with full backing from Kelantan Umno assemblypersons.

The six offences punishable under hudud law are: sariqah (theft), hirabah (robbery), zina (unlawful carnal intercourse), qazaf (accusation of zina which cannot be proven without four witnesses), syurb (consuming liquor or intoxicants), and irtadad or riddad (apostasy).