KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — A cinema outlet has banned unmarried Muslims from selecting couple seats when frequenting its outlets in Perak, according to a report today by news portal Astro Awani.

The report said that the Lotus Five Star (LFS) cinema in Seri Iskandar, a township with several tertiary education institutions, had issued the ban following “advice” from the Perak Tengah Municipal Council.

“Couples who are not mahram are not allowed to sit in couple seats,” said a notice in Malay issued by the cinema, in a photo that has since been circulated online.

Mahram, also pronounced muhrim in Malay, is a concept in Shariah law that refers to unmarriageable kin, such as blood relatives.

Awani also reported that the cinema, which has 12 couple seats, had kept the ban in force from as far back as two years ago when it first opened its doors.

It is unknown what by-law authorises the council to advise LFS’s management to implement the ban.

It is also unclear how the cinema enforces the ban or what action will be taken for those who defy the ban.

Malay Mail Online cannot yet reach LFS or the council for verification.

LFS operates over 25 cinemas across the country, and is popularly known for showing Hindi and Tamil films.