The Islamisation race between Umno and PAS has affected the lives of non-Muslims and shared spaces, said rights group Suaram in its Human Rights Report 2003.

"...there is pressure for non-Muslims to respect the sensitivity or requirements of Muslims while there is no such pressure for Muslims to respect the sensitivity of non-Muslims.

"The reasons normally given by some officials from the government and from some political parties are that Malaysia's religion is Islam, that the Malays are the majority and 'master' race, that non-Malays are immigrants and that non-Muslim do not understand the Islamic way of life," the report said.

For example, the report highlighted that in March 2003, a dress code was imposed on all graduating students to wear Islamic clothing such as the tudung and baju Melayu for their convocation ceremony at Politeknik Ungku Omar in Ipoh, Perak.

Complaints arose from non-Muslim parents, prompting the Education Ministry to direct all public institutions to seek the ministry's approval before any dress code can be applied.

Pork, liquor ban

According to the report, another controversy erupted in June 2003 when the Kajang Municipal Council decided to ban the sale of pork in open-air markets.

"Selangor Exective Council Member Mokthar Dahlan acknowledged that Chinese traders had been selling pork in open-air markets for years, but said times had changed and that the sensitivities of the Malays had to be considered," the report said.

It was also reported that in July 2003, Public Service Department Director General Jamaluddin Ahmad Damanhuri announced that non-Muslim civil servants can be subjected to disciplinary action should they be caught for khalwat or adultery with Muslim partners.

Similarly, in Terengganu, a last minute ban on the consumption of alcohol in a hotel in Kuala Terengganu had affected a Hindu Deepavali celebration.

The ban was later lifted, but liquor and glasses had to be supplied by the organisers.

The report quoted PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang as saying that alcohol consumption and dancing is permitted in hotels owned by non-Muslims.

For hotels jointly owned by Muslims and non-Muslims, he said the ban would depend on the occasion.

"If Muslims are present, then alcohol and dancing by women would not be allowed as a sign of respect to them," added the opposition leader.