While opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had recently supported the implementation of law, the prime minister said there were already elements of hudood in the system “minus the extreme part”.

“If we ask the ulamas, Islamic law cannot be implemented unless we take into consideration the environment and the reality,” said Najib, pointing out that even though the law was “Gods law” its implementation needed to be based on realities.The hudood law states the bounds for acceptable behaviour and punishment for crimes.