Terengganu executive councillor Khalil Abdul Hadi said the public whipping, the first of its kind in the east coast state, would be deferred until after the shariah appellate court had ruled on the matter, Berita Harian reported.

However, Khalil, who is in charge of the state’s information, dakwah and shariah empowerment portfolio, said that the punishment would be meted out at the same location – Masjid Al Muktafi Billah Shah – in the “near future”.

He also said that filing for a review was a norm in the judicial system.

“I would like to advise the public against speculating about the matter, and to have faith in the shariah courts,” he was quoted as saying.

Khalil also defended the whipping, which had sparked criticism from the likes of women’s rights group Sisters in Islam, saying it was meant to serve as a deterrent.

It was reported last month that Affendi Awang was set to be the first person to be publicly whipped in Terengganu for khalwat after pleading guilty to a repeated offence of being in close proximity with a woman who was not his wife.

The Terengganu shariah high court ordered for Affendi to be given six strokes of the rotan.

The father of five was accused of committing khalwat with a 52-year-old woman at a house in Kemaman on June 16.

Affendi, who was convicted of khalwat on two previous occasions, was also slapped with a RM4,000 fine, or six months in prison if he failed to pay the amount.