Leaders of the Islamist party (PAS) which rules the state say recent performances of the Malay singing style known as dikir barat have become immoral with female singers dressing indecently.

Dikir barat involves performers sitting on the floor, clapping their hands and making certain arm gestures in response to a lead singer.

Banning popular traditions

Kelantan, the only Malaysian state ruled by PAS, banned such traditional singing in 1992 along with traditional shadow plays, animistic dance rituals and animal fights.

But the ban on traditional singing and shadow plays was lifted in 1996 on condition that performers followed guidelines set up by a state council specialising in religious decrees.

Local commentators in Kelantan say PAS periodically tightens up the application of its Islamic edicts just to show it is still in charge.

A senior spokesman for PAS, Subky Latif, said the party had to enforce bans in Kelantan like the one on mixed singing because moral standards elsewhere in the country were unacceptable.

He said: "The culture in Malaysia, as far as Muslims are concerned, is that there is a lot of un-Islamic character there. Since the people in power are not concerned about Islam they let the law be whatever it is. Even pornography is also being shown on our television - of course we're concerned about it."

Mahathir Mohamad wants moderation

Such attitudes are not shared by the country's prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, who wants to see a moderate Islam practised in Malaysia.

However, there were indications last year that the views of PAS are spreading beyond Kelantan when religious officials in the state of Selangor arrested three women for taking part in a beauty contest.

Meanwhile, the authorities in Sarawak banned male contestants from entering a body-building competition.