A year after easing polygamy rules for Muslim men, the country's smallest state is planning treatment centres for men suffering from sexual impotency as part efforts to boost tourism, said reports.

Perlis will bring in experts from around the world to run the new centres, which will also offer weight loss programs, state chief minister Shahidan Kassim was quoted saying in the Malay-language Berita Minggu.

"Perlis will offer special massage services for health, including for men suffering from erectile dysfunction. We will get experts from Cuba, Thailand and Indonesia to train our local masseurs," he said.

A new range of home-stay programs offering courses conducted by religious teachers is also being planned to entice Muslims seeking spiritual development, he said.

Perlis, a tiny state bordering Thailand, last year came under fire from women's groups after it eased polygamy rules for Muslim men in the state. Islam is the official religion and Muslim men can marry up to four wives.

Shahidan said tourism in the state was booming but there was still a shortage of hotels despite an offer by the government to give free land to hotel developers since 1995.

The offer would be extended until September to woo hoteliers to set up operations there, he said. - AFP