PAS has accused the Singaporean government of violating human rights following its threat to suspend four primary one students for wearing tudung (head scarves) to school.

"Suspending students wearing head scarves is against human rights and the freedom of religion," said PAS Youth chief Mahfuz Omar in a memorandum addressed to Singaporean premier Goh Chok Tong.

"With these restrictions, it would mean Muslims have been turned into second-class citizens by the Singapore government," he added.

The memorandum dated Jan 29 was faxed to malaysiakini today. A PAS delegation headed by Mahfuz submitted the memorandum to the first secretary of the Singapore Embassy in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Recently, it was reported that four Muslim schoolgirls could face suspension if they continue to wear their tudung to class.

This has become a major issue in multi-ethnic Singapore, which imposes a strict uniform code to promote racial integration in its schools.

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was reported as saying that "dress and symbols do make a difference" in the government's effort to promote racial and religious integration and harmony.

Reasoning unacceptable

Meanwhile, the PAS Youth memorandum said this policy of not allowing head scarves to create racial integration was unacceptable.

"Worries that giving permission to Muslim students to wear head scarves would invite demands to be made by people of other religions also have no basis," said Mahfuz.

The Youth leader also contended that the policy could backfire on Singapore and heighten rather than decrease racial polarisation.

"These restrictions placed by the Singaporean government not only violate freedom of religion but also create dissatisfaction among the Muslim community in Singapore.

"If the Singaporean government fails to make wise decisions on this issue it will be facing a catastrophe in terms of its national unity," he warned.

Mahfuz also called upon the Singaporean government to apologise to the Muslims in Singapore.

Singapore is a secular country with a population of more than four million people, 77 percent of whom are Chinese, 14 percent Malay and eight percent Indian.