Beyonce Knowles Plans Another Concert in Malaysia Despite Protests

Mon, 21 September 2009 03:36:23 ET

Beyonce Knowles Plans Another Concert in Malaysia Despite Protests
© CWNY/Fame Pictures

Two years after she scrapped her planned gig in Malaysia because Islamic protesters threatened to disrupt her performance due to her sexy image and clothing, Beyonce Knowles has made another plan to perform in the Muslim-majority country. A statement on her official website mentioned, "Beyonce for the first time ever has decided to make Malaysia part of her 'I am.' World Tour." According to the statement, the Jay-Z's wife will perform on October 25 in Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur.

About Beyonce's upcoming performance, Sabki Yusof of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party said on Sunday, September 20 that the organization would send a protest note to the government over the concert, claiming the government is responsible "to protect the people of Malaysia" from what he described as immoral Western influences. He additionally told Yahoo! News, "We are not against entertainment as long as it is within the framework of our culture and our religion. We are against Western sexy performances. We don't think our people need that."

In November 2007, Beyonce Knowles was actually scheduled to perform in Malaysia. After being told that the government rules stipulate female artists to cover their bodies from shoulders to knees, the "If I Were a Boy" songstress decided to call off her concert in the country, citing scheduling conflict as the reason of the cancellation. However, report said the 28-year-old beauty refused to cover up. Instead, she chose to perform in Indonesia, where rules governing stage performances are less strict.