Deputy Kelantan Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah has now clarified that punishment for ‘unnatural’ sex acts that he had labelled lesbian sex, necrophilia, and bestiality do not fall under hudud.

Offenders will instead be punished under ta'zir , instead of the hudud offence of sodomy as had been reported previously.

Ta'zir refers to punishments that can be administered at the discretion of the judge.

Mohd Amar had told reporters on Thursday that the so mentioned 'unnatural' sex acts were not removed from the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (II) 1993 Enactment 2015 and were instead included under sodomy .

When met by Malaysiakini , Amar explained that he had erred in his explanation.

"I admit it's my fault. Actually, the other unnatural sex acts will be included under ta'zir, where we will amend the Syariah Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Enactment 1985. It's not to be included under the offence of sodomy.

"I gave the wrong explanation. After I checked again, it is actually under ta'zir and will be included under the 1985 enactment which we will do in the next state assembly sitting," he told Malaysiakini .

The state government will also table amendments to the 1985 enactment, specifically on offences under ta'zir, at the next state assembly sitting.

"Yes, unnatural sex acts will not be included under hudud. But it's possible that the punishment under ta'zir will be heavier than the punishment under hudud as it depends on the Court," he said.

Meanwhile, explaining further on anal sex between married couples, Mohd Amar said husbands will be punished under ta'zir as there were differences in opinion among scholars on the matter.

"Some scholars argue that since wives belong to their husbands, their husbands can do as they like," said the PAS politician.

He said this comes from the differences of interpretation of the Quranic verse which states that "wives are tilths for their husbands", and therefore, they can approach their wives in any sexual manner they choose.

"When there are differences of opinions, it (the offence) cannot be tried under hudud," he said.