Malaysian state to enforce separate lines

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's only state run by the Islamic opposition party will more strictly enforce separate lines for men and women at supermarkets, an official says.

Authorities in the northern state of Kelantan — governed by the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party — will fine supermarkets and shops if they let men and women use the same lines at checkout counters, said party spokesman Anual Bakri Haron.

Chief Minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat has called for stricter enforcement "to safeguard the ladies" from being harassed and to avoid close proximity between opposite sexes while lining up to buy groceries, Anual said. "He wants the enforcement to be looked into thoroughly."

Every state in Malaysia besides Kelantan is ruled by the National Front coalition, which is made up of various parties representing Malaysia's different ethnic groups.