Nude pix prompt Malaysian political flap

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A Malaysian opposition politician has offered a tearful resignation after nude photos of her were circulated to the media, observers say.

In offering to quit, Elizabeth Wong -- who in addition to her status as a legislator is one of Malaysia's top human rights activists -- said the release of the nude photographs was a political ploy by the government, Antara News reported Tuesday.

The images reportedly show her sleeping in her bedroom and may have been taken by Wong's former boyfriend, Malaysian newspapers have speculated.

The photographs of Wong, a 37-year-old single woman, have been circulated on the Internet and mobile phones but have not yet been published in the media. Antara said the nude pictures have caused a political storm in conservative and predominantly Muslim Malaysia.

"She is a single person. How can she allow a man into her room when they are not married?" asked Mohamad Khir Toyo, the former Barisan Nasional Party chief minister of Selangor. "What's the status of the relationship?"

Anwar Ibrahim, leader of Wong's three-member Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, did not immediately accept her resignation, telling Antara she had been asked to take a break and that the matter would be considered later.