Malaysian city warns women over make-up

Tag : dress up party
A Malaysian city has urged Muslim womennot to wear brightly coloured lipstick, tight clothes orhigh-heeled shoes while working, an official said Tuesday.

"Nowadays the way women dress attracts unwanted attention. It couldlead to all sorts of vice," said Azman Mohd Daham, public relationsdirector of the city council in Kota Bharu, capital of conservativenorthern Kelantan state.

"We do not advocate tight clothes, too much lipstick or thickmake-up, and even the headscarf should not be too transparent," hetold AFP. "Women should dress modestly, this is what Islamrequires."

The guidelines were sent to local businesses and shops last month,he said, but denied reports that anyone flouting the code faced afine.

"If they want to follow what we advocate in the campaign, it isentirely their choice but we hope they do because this is the bestfor them."

"We do not punish anyone for wearing thick make-up or high-heelshoes, there are no fines either," he said, but added that Muslimwomen did face a fine if they failed to cover their heads with ascarf.

Kelantan has been run by the Islamic party PAS since 1990 and isthe most conservative state in Malaysia. Like the rest of thecountry, it is dominated by Muslim Malays, but also home to ethnicChinese and Indian minorities.

The state's rulers have in the past made headlines with laws thatrequire separate queues for men and women in shops, and forimposing fines on skimpy clothing.

However, in recent years the party has begun introducing reformsdesigned to tone down its hardline reputation and woo young voters.