An opposition Islamic party today criticised the Malaysian government decision to freeze funding to private Islamic schools, warning it may lead to the closing of hundreds of such schools.

Mahfuz Omar, youth chief and lawmaker of the Parti Islam SeMalaysia said since January 2002, none of the private religious schools have been given their yearly grants.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday the government would look into restricting these schools.

"Yes, we are looking into religious schools. We find at the moment, religious schools are not teaching religion. They are teaching something else," he told reporters.

The government last month announced a funding freeze amid complaints that teachers indoctrinate pupils to hate national leaders and instill extremism.

Where's the evidence?

But Mahfuz denied the allegations, describing the government action as politically motivated.

"Show us the evidence. Identify the teacher or the school. Don't lump all the schools in one basket," he said.

Mahfuz said these schools teach English, science and mathematics beside Arabic and the Koran.

"Students are taught to become responsible citizens and not to hate leaders or become terrorists," he said.

Mahfuz said the schools produce not only clerics and religious teachers but professionals as well.

In January, Malaysia shuttered the Luqmanul Hakiem religious school in southern Malaysia and detained several teachers. It was formerly run by alleged Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) spiritual leader, Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir. It is believed some of the suspects in the Bali blast attended the institution.

JI has links to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden and has been blamed for the Oct 12 bombing on the Indonesian resort island that killed more than 190 people.

Many private religious schools here are run by supporters of PAS, the nation's largest opposition party.

Not linked to terrorists

Muslim support for the party has been rising at the expense of backing of Mahathir's ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

Mahfuz said PAS was not linked to Luqmanul Hakiem, suggesting the move to cut funds for schools was yet another campaign by Umno for voters to distance themselves from PAS.

"Mahathir wants people to lose confidence in religious leaders. He hopes to erode PAS support because PAS champions Islam," he said.

Mahfuz warned government harsh action would force schools to cut their staff and eventually usher in their demise.

PAS now controls Kelantan and oil rich Terengganu state and has pledged to introduce tough Islamic laws if it comes to power through the ballot box.

Malaysia is a multiracial country with a Muslim population of slightly more than 50 percent.

More than 70 alleged Islamic militants have been detained here since the middle of last year. - AFP