Tourism minister was to meet and placate an elderly American couple harassed by Muslim religious officials in the island of Langkawi.

Randall Barnhart, 62, and his wife Carole, 61, were rudely awakened in their rented apartment in the early hours of the morning earlier this month by religious officials conducting a raid on " khalwat " couples.

Under Islamic law, which operates alongside the civil code in multicultural Malaysia, " khalwat " - close proximity between a man and a woman who are not married - is forbidden.

The couple, who were on a six-week sailing holiday in Malaysia, have been married for 42 years and are Christians.

Tourism Minister Adnan Mansor expressed concern that the incident on Langkawi, an idyllic island off Kedah state promoted as a sailing hub, would affect the country's image.

"I have communicated with Barnhart through emails and plan to meet him soon," Adnan was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper.

Barnhart complained to police and the US embassy over the raid, which saw the officials yelling and pounding on the couple's door at two in the morning.

Barnhart, who answered the door, said the officials demanded to see his "woman" and insisted on being shown their marriage licence and passports, according to the newspaper.

He said his wife was terrified by the incident and insisted on going back to the United States.

Barnhart asked for an apology from Kedah state's religious department and compensation of RM4,315, the newspaper said.