Police today questioned the leader of Malaysia's opposition Islamic party over alleged remarks that God is a "gangster," a party official said.

"Police question Nik Aziz for over an hour in his office in Kota Baru," Zulkifli Sulong, editor of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) organ Harakah told AFP . He did not elaborate.

Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who is the chief minister of the north-eastern Kelantan state, is a PAS spiritual leader.

The Star newspaper had recently quoted the Islamic leader as saying that he would not "repent" over his alleged statement that God had the human trait of being "thuggish." Blasphemy is a crime in Malaysia.

The ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) led by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has pushed for action to be taken against Nik Aziz.

"Religious leaders should not keep quiet and let matter prolong. This is not a matter of politics but touches on faith," Rafidah Aziz, the Umno women's wing chief, said early September.

Some individual Muslims have recently lodged police complaints against Nik Aziz. AFP