A Malaysian state is seeing red over its ministers and senior officers who played golf during office hours, a report said Saturday.

Musa Aman, chief minister of Sabah, was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times that there had been public complaints about the matter and warning letters would be issued to offenders.

We will be telling them it is wrong to play golf during office hours. This time we are serious," he said.

Entertain only

"However, if they have to play golf during work to entertain very important people, then they will be allowed to do so."

Numerous golf courses dot Malaysia's second largest state on the northern tip of Borneo. Sabah, home to Southeast Asia's highest peak, Mount Kinabalu, is a popular tourist destination. - AFP