KL to keep an eye on rogue mosques

KL to keep an eye on rogue mosques

MALAYSIA: The home state of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is setting up recording devices at mosques to deter prayer leaders from delivering anti-government sermons to Muslim congregations, an official said on Monday.

All mosques in the northern state of Kedah will soon be fitted with voice recording equipment, while video cameras would be installed in venues where errant imam (preachers) are suspected of straying from their religious texts, said Kedah Chief Minister Syed Razak Syed Zain.

Mahathir's national ruling coalition has a nearly two-thirds majority in the Kedah state assembly, but the opposition Pan- Malaysian Islamic Party, which holds the remaining assembly seats, wants to boost its representation in the next elections, scheduled for 2004.

Mahathir, who has led Malaysia since 1981, has accused the Islamic party's supporters of preaching hatred in schools and mosques and twisting religious truths to turn people against the government. --AP