Malaysian state vows to eliminate ads showing women's heads

Asian Economic News, May 13, 2002

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 Kyodo

Authorities in Malaysia's Kelantan state governed by a fundamentalist Islamic party have vowed to eliminate advertisements that feature women without their heads covered, the Star newspaper reported Thursday.

Kota Baru Municipal Council chief Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman was quoted as saying enforcement officers would tear down any posters, billboards or other forms of advertising that feature women without headscarves or scantily clad women.

The government under the conservative Pan Islamic Party (PAS), the country's biggest opposition party, in 1992 imposed regulations requiring female models to wear headscarves.

''However, lately we have noticed some sections of the business community are not adhering to the requirement,'' Abdul Aziz was quoted as saying.

Notices have been issued to those who flout the law, he said, which was aimed at ''protecting the image of women in the state.''

PAS has been busy putting forward its brand of Islamic policies since taking over the state from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's more moderate ruling National Front coalition in 1990.

Among a series of eyebrow-raising regulations it has implemented are a ban on the wearing of lipstick at work, segregated counters for men and women at supermarkets and lights-on at cinemas.