Malaysian men flashing their genitals at women may get more exposure than they want if Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has his way.

The prime minister, in an apparently ironic response to a controversial court judgment, has advised the public to seize the sarongs of flashers and leave them naked, so that the wrap-around cloth can be used as evidence, local media reported today.

Mahathir was commenting on the case of a member of Malaysia's opposition Islamic party who was accused of flashing his private parts at a female member of the ruling party by lifting his sarong during a tough by-election campaign.

Alleged incident

Razak Abas, 52, a former parliamentary candidate for the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), was acquitted in court last month, partly on the grounds that the prosecution had failed to produce the sarong he wore during the alleged incident.

"Now we know what we must do when faced with such cases. We must first take the sarong so that it can be used as an evidence although this will lead to the person being naked," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

Although, he added, "I do not know how the sarong can be used as an evidence that the person lifted his sarong." - AFP