Malaysia's hardline Islamic opposition party has banned Muslims in the capital of Kelantan state from entering outlets that serve alcohol.

Nazran Mohamad, secretary of the Kota Baru Municipal Council, said the directive was in line with the state government's plan to eliminate liquor consumption among Muslims.

"The directive does not affect all Chinese retaurants but only those which sell beer and liquor," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

The Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) rules the conservative northeastern state of Kelantan in Malaysia's Muslim heartland. The directive at present only covers Kota Baru.

Nazran said owners of restaurants which serve alcohol must tell Muslims that they are not allowed to patronise the outlet.

Revamp image

PAS was trounced in 2004 elections, retaining only Kelantan. Its defeat was seen as a vote against the party's fundamentalist approach to Islam.

But since then it has been trying to revamp its image and capture support among ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.

In Kelantan, it lifted a 15-year ban on snooker and billiards and allowed cinemas to operate - although with the lights on to prevent any unseemly behaviour.

However, its politicians continue to stir controversy, including in April when a PAS lawmaker caused a furore in the nation's Parliament by referring to single mothers as "horny."