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