KUALA LUMPUR, June 24: A Malaysian city has banned Muslim women from wearing brightly coloured lipstick and noisy high-heeled shoes to work, the national news agency Bernama reported.

City officials in Kota Bharu, the capital of conservative northern Kelantan state — which is run by the Islamic party PAS — distributed a circular to local firms last month to outline the dress code, Bernama said late on Monday.

The report said the circular stated that the directive, which targeted Muslim women working in food outlets and other business premises, was aimed at preventing incidents like rape and illicit sex.

It ordered women not to wear thick make-up including bright lipstick, or high-heeled shoes “that gave a tapping sound,” although rubber-soled heels were permitted.

The directive said that the headscarf worn by many Muslim women in Malaysia should also cover the chest and not be made of transparent material, and that those who flouted the rules faced a fine of 500 ringgit ($153).—AFP