Malaysian Muslim Council: Stop Wearing Lipstick and Heels and You Won't Get Raped

Get the bags back on your heads, ladies, and everything will be alright.

It's the Islamic way.

Authorities in a northern Malaysian city are calling on Muslim women not to wear bright lipstick and noisy high-heel shoes if they want to follow the "Islamic way".

The municipal council in Kota Baru, run by a conservative Islamic party, is distributing pamphlets with the advice, in an effort to prevent rape and protect women's dignity and morals.

Council spokesman Azman Mohamad Daham said: 'We just distribute pamphlets. Our minimum guideline is they must wear headscarves.

'The rest is up to them. If they want to follow the 100 percent Islamic way, it's up to them.'

The campaign started in 2006, but new pamphlets are circulated each year, he said.

Kota Baru is the capital of Kelantan state, which is ruled by the conservative opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party.

Violators can be fined up to 500 ringgit (US$150), Azman said, adding that an average of 20 women were fined each month for breaking the rule.

About two-thirds of Malaysia's population is Malay Muslim and the country prides itself on being a moderate country.