Twenty-four leaders of PAS have been banned from giving speeches in all mosques, surau and government buildings.

PAS Selangor information chief and state assemblyman for Gombak Setia, Ustaz Ismail Kamus, told malaysiakini today that last week the Malaysian Islamic Development Department in the Prime Minister's Office has issued a directive banning 24 PAS leaders, including him, from delivering any speeches in mosques.

Among those blacklisted are well-known Islamic scholars Dr. Haron Din, Ishak Baharom ( left photo) and Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

Dr. Haron ( front-page photo) was a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia lecturer, Tuan Ibrahim was a Universiti Teknologi Mara lecturer, while Ishak is a former mufti (religious head) of Selangor.

In the government directive, the authority has stated that "the speakers are not welcome", without giving any reasons.

Asked what possible action PAS would take in response to the ban, Ismail said the party will be discussing the matter soon.

According to Ismail, he has been banned from delivering speeches in mosques since the last general elections in November.

Ismail, a former official of Wilayah Persekutuan Religious Department, joined PAS after the dismissal of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim from government.