Mustapha Ali, vice president of the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia told AFP that the tiny republic should allow the schoolgirls to wear Islamic headscarves in class.

"Headscarves do not disrupt racial unity. It poses no problems," he said.

"We support the girls' parents in their stand. This does not mean PAS is interfering in Singapore's affairs," Mustapha said.

Four Muslim schoolgirls have been threatened with suspension for wearing scarves at school. The scarves, or tudong, can be worn to and from school but have to be taken off during lessons under strict Singaporean rules designed to promote racial harmony.

Two students have now complied with the school uniform rules after pressure from the authorities, and two others were given until Monday to fall in line or face expulsion.

Women and Family Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said every person must be allowed to practise his or her religion and no government can demand otherwise.

"To many Muslim women, asking them to take off their headscarves is like asking them to appear naked in public," she was quoted as saying by The Sun newspaper.

Shahrizat said while it is Singapore's internal matter and it is the policy of Malaysia not to interfere, there has to be some kind of respect towards all religions.

Malaysia has a majority Muslim population but large Chinese and Indian minorities, while Singapore is dominated by ethnic Chinese with a Muslim minority.

Singapore on Thursday accused a senior Malaysian official of interfering in the city-state's internal affairs after he commented on the threatened suspension of the four Muslim girls.

"We are surprised at the remarks which Malaysian Deputy Education Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz is reported to have made," the ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.

"This is an interference in Singapore's internal affairs," it said.

Abdul Aziz had earlier urged the Singapore government to review its policy on the scarves.

The decision could cause a national conflict, he added.

Karpal Singh, opposition politician with the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party said Singapore should not be unduly sensitive of criticism by Abdul Aziz.

"The destinies of both countries are so intertwined that care has to be taken by the governments of both countries in the handling of sensitive issues," he said in a statement.

"The Singapore government can ill-afford to ignore the protests over the ruling which defies logic and common sense."

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