(AFP) Lawmakers in the Kelantan, ruled by opposition Islamic party PAS, voted unanimously today to curb the power of their sultan over local legislation.

The move follows months of tension between the hereditary ruler and the PAS government.

All 40 PAS assembly members voted in favour of the amendment to the state constitution, Bernama news agency said.

Two members of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's ruling party Umno, boycotted the sitting.

The amendments require the sultan to heed the advice of lawmakers. Local legislation will come into force after 30 days even if he does not sign it.

In January the sultan's palace withdrew awards conferred on two leading local PAS assembly members. No reason was given publicly.

Bernama said that since PAS wrested Kelantan from UMNO in 1990, there had been several major differences between the palace and the PAS government.

Chief minister Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the amendments were to ensure the smooth running of the state administration and were in line with action taken by other states in the counttry.

He said the amendments were not aimed at destroying the institution of monarchy but of modernising it in line with public opinion, as in Japan.

A group calling itself the Kelantan People's Action Council described today's sitting of the assembly as unlawful since the sultan had not consented to it.