KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Activists have threatened to stage a protest in the buff over a sudden hike in rental rates for government housing, drawing rebukes from Muslim leaders and the police.

Such a gesture would be rare in conservative Malaysia.

Mr Ramlan Abu Bakar of the Malaysian People's Reform Movement said yesterday his members were ready to strip
outside the offices of the chief minister of Selangor state, after the cost of low-income housing was more than doubled.

He said: 'Protesting naked is our final act of desperation... the government is literally stealing the clothes off our backs.'

The Islamic PAS party, part of the Pakatan Rakyat alliance in power in Selangor, criticised the plan.

Its spiritual leader, Mr Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, called it "uncivilised", saying: 'Even an animal like a cow, which is stark naked, God created a tail to hide its private parts and here we are talking about humans.'

State police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said: 'We will take firm action against any non-governmental organisation that holds a gathering without a permit, and even more so if participants are in the nude.'

-- AFP