Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has reiterated that the implementation of hudud law in the state was frustrated by the federal government, and not because the conditions were not conducive.

"On the contrary, it was held off because of obstacles from the federal government, including a warning through an official letter from the prime minister of the time that has still not been rescinded," said the PAS spiritual leader in his blog today.

He was commenting on the views of PAS MP Dzukefly Ahmad and former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin on the implementation of hudud law in the context of the political atmosphere of that time.

NONE Nik Aziz ( right) recalled that the state had adopted the Syariah Criminal Enactment II (1993) since November that year.

He added that the state's efforts had also involved discussions with Islamic law authorities professors Ahmad Ibrahim, Mahmod Saedon and present Kelantan chief syariah judge Daud Muhammad.

Nik Aziz said they had also held discussions with and received the support of the Umno splinter party Semangat 46's head, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

"And so, in the state assembly all assemblypersons including from Umno had also supported (the move).

"Yet after that, the application to implement the law had been rejected by the federal government," he said.

Yesterday, Malay daily Sinar Harian had reported Asri as saying that PAS had "given the wrong picture of hudud law, resulting in it receiving fierce opposition from DAP's leaders as well as confusing non-Muslims".

NONE Asri ( left ) was also reported as saying that the Syariah Criminal Enactment II (1993) was "unclear" and "has resulted in causing misconceptions until now".

Meanwhile, the same daily on Thursday reported Dzulkefly commenting that hudud could not be implement so long as people did not accept or understand the laws completely.

He was reported saying that hudud should not be implemented "hurriedly, because it requires explanation, education and adequate clarification".

Responding to this, Nik Aziz likened PAS' challenges in implementing hudud to a choppy sea.

"If we wait for the waves to subside, how long will the fishermen have to wait to go out to sea?

"It is only when the sea has waves, that the fishermen can propel their boats outwards in order to catch fish."