Avril Lavigne too hot for Malaysia

The youth wing of Malaysia’s hardline opposition Islamic party has called for a Aug. 29 concert by Canadian pop star Avril Lavigne to be banned, saying the singer’s ‘prancing’ performances were not suitable for locals.

The 23-year-old singer is scheduled to hold the concert, her first in the Muslim-majority nation, in the capital Kuala Lumpur. However, the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) youth wing slammed the organizers for approving the show, saying the young pop-punk star’s shows were not in line with local culture.

Herman Samsudeen, the wing’s information chief, said "our independence month should be marked by respect ... and not remembered by inviting the offsprings of colonists who will teach our children how to become modern monkeys, prancing around without any purpose."

Malaysia celebrates its 51st year of independence from Britain on Aug. 31.

"Approving this concert is a great insult," Samsudeen said, adding the party would send an official protest note to the government to call for cancelling the show.

A party official declined to comment, as Lavigne holds Canadian nationality, saying only that Western influences in general were ‘damaging’ to local culture.

PAS, which has been in control of the northeastern state of Kelantan since 1990, has imposed strict religious laws dictating dress and restricting all forms of entertainment in the state.

Women entertainers are not allowed to perform in public, and men and women have to sit separately in cinemas.

Last year, Beyoncé Knowles refused to bow to radical Muslim student demands that she keep her booty covered and cancelled her Nov. 1 gig.

Western performers face mounting pressure in Malaysia to keep skimpy clothes and steamy dance moves off the stage amid protests by conservative Muslims.

Gwen Stefani made what she called "a major sacrifice" last August by wearing clothes that revealed minimal skin at a Kuala Lumpur concert after Muslim activists called for the performance to be canceled due to her sultry reputation.

Authorities also cancelled the concert permit for Indonesian singer Inul Daratista following protests from some Islamic groups.

Daratista is controversial for her suggestive dance moves which she calls "Goyang Inul" (‘drilling moves’).