Malaysian state bans opposition leaders
                    from mosque lectures

                    KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (AFP) - A Malaysian state has banned all
                    opposition leaders from delivering lectures at mosques on the grounds that
                    they were making "political speeches", a report said Sunday.

                    Mohamad Khir Toyo, the chief minister of central Selangor state, was
                    quoted as saying by The Sun that such lectures in places of worship
                    would only divide the Malay community.

                    "I view the (lectures) in these places as more political than religious and
                    the opposition uses these opportunities to make unfounded allegations
                    which further confuses the community," he said.

                    The Selangor Islamic religious department banned Nik Aziz Nik Mat,
                    Kelantan state chief minister and spiritual leader of the opposition Parti
                    Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), from speaking at a mosque in the state on
                    Sunday.

                    The Kelantan government has criticised the ban as "un-Islamic and
                    undemocratic."

                    But Mohamad Khir told Nik Aziz to concentrate on problems in his own
                    state. He said the ban also applied to all opposition leaders.

                    "There is no need to come to other territories. It is best if he looks after
                    his own backyard in Kelantan and focuses on matters relating to social
                    ills, economy and crime among others," he added.

                    PAS has gained from a split in the Muslim community after the now-jailed
                    Anwar Ibrahim was sacked as deputy premier and expelled from the
                    United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in September 1998.

                    UMNO, the linchpin of the ruling coalition, is seeking to win back Malay
                    votes after losing control of a second state assembly to PAS in last
                    November's general election. Apart from Kelantan, PAS now also rules
                    neighbouring Terengganu state.

                    Muslims make-up more than half of Malaysia's 23 million population.