The West Java branch of the Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party has been ordered to lose that loving feeling.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati – Just a day after Mujtahid Rahman Yadi, who chairs the Depok-based branch, announced that the party, or PKS, would woo younger voters by distributing chocolates and flowers on Valentine's Day, party big wigs on the executive board crushed his plans.

"The plan has been aborted because the Shariah Council bans it. The reason is because [Valentine's Day] is related to Jewish culture," Tifatul Sembiring, chairman of the PKS, said on Monday. "We would never celebrate anything that is not in line with Islamic culture."

Tifatul said the council had asked for an immediate explanation from Depok on the plan.

On Sunday, Mujtahid said that on Feb. 14, the branch planned to distribute chocolates, which would be attached to pictures of the party's legislative candidates, and flowers tied with a ribbon bearing the number 8, which will be the party's official ballot number for April's legislative elections.

The branch believed the plan was in accordance with the party's "Knocking on One Million Doors" program, which is aimed at introducing the increasingly popular party to voters.

Ahmad Mabruri, a PKS spokesman, said that the program was introduced as part of the party's national program but that the implementation was the responsibility of the party branches.

"It is up to them when and how they do it. They have the freedom to choose the moments, whether its Mother's Day or other celebrations," he said.