The Sarawak Islamic Religious Department has caught 82 Muslims for eating, drinking and smoking instead of observing a day-time fast during the month of Ramadan.

Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office, Daud Abdul Rahman, said last year, 62 Muslims were caught for the same offence.

"More than half of those caught not fasting are Indonesians working as labourers," he told reporters after breaking of fast at the An Nur Mosque in Sibu, yesterday.

He said they would be charged under the Syariah Criminal Offences Ordinance 2001 after Aidilfitri where those found guilty could be fined up to RM1,000 or jailed up to six months or both.

Asked on the possibility of foreigners not aware that it was an offence for Muslims to eat, drink or smoke in public during the fasting month, said such information had been disseminated by the print and electronic media.

- Bernama