Then again, when Muslims heard him say “moderate” that included sharia law.

Kuala Lumpur: Six months after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak stood before the United Nations and urged Muslims worldwide to be moderate in their religion, members of his own party are supporting a law that punishes adulterers with death and thieves with amputation.

Lawmakers from Mr Najib’s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) joined the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) to pass Islamic criminal law, or hudud, in the opposition-held state of Kelantan.

The move has drawn criticism from other parties in their respective coalitions, while human rights groups say it’s an unconstitutional step for secular Malaysia. […]

“There will be a lot of double speak within UMNO because I think by and large, they don’t want hudud but they can’t say it openly,” said Fui K. Soong, a director at the Centre for Strategic Engagement in Kuala Lumpur.

“The conservatives and radicals within his party are the ones who’ll make some noise but Najib will still need to take a firmer stance and say the country is not ready for that.”

Islam is recognised as the official religion of Malaysia, which Mr Najib describes as a “moderate” Islamic nation, and non-Muslims have the right to choose and practice their own faith.