A young woman sits silently in a small room of a sprawling bungalow on a quiet suburban street. A white-bearded man approaches and gently lays his hands on her head. She begins to writhe and moan.

Two aides step forward to hold her down as the bearded man intones Quranic verses and orders the demon to leave her body. "No!" the woman shrieks, giving voice to the evil spirit within her. "I've been here a long time, I don't want to die."

After a minute or two she is led from the room, her face a mask of fear and anguish. The bearded man - Haron Din, Islamic scholar, healer, politician and ghostbuster - moves on to the next patient.

About 200 people, mostly women wearing the Malaysian Muslim headscarf and loose, colourful, flowing dresses, await his attention.

"They have problems, not only physical problems but also spiritual problems, including black magic," Haron tells AFP over a cup of tea during a break in his schedule.

A belief in the supernatural is widespread in Malaysia, as it is in many parts of Asia.