Malaysia's conservative Islamic party has called for R & sensation Rihanna to be banned from performing in Kuala Lumpur next month, saying her outfits are too sexy, a report said Wednesday. The Pan-Malaysian Islamic party (PAS), which has mounted protests against the United States over its support of Israel, said that concertgoers would also contribute to an outflow of local currency to the United States. "Whether Rihanna realizes it or not, we know that the taxes she has paid also contributed to the war in Gaza," Kamaruzaman Mohamad, a PAS youth wing leader, told the Star daily.
Kamaruzaman said that the show planned for Feb. 13, part of Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad" tour, would be an insult to Asian values as she often performed suggestively and wore skimpy outfits. The event was "akin to insulting Eastern culture, belittling local artistes, internationally causing losses to the country's economy and supporting Israel's war policy, which is supported by America," he said.
Kamaruzaman urged authorities who issue concert permits in Muslim-majority Malaysia to reject the organizer's application.
The concert's sponsor told the daily that Grammy award winner Rihanna has agreed to follow local regulations for her performance but did not give details. Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne meantime said he did not think anyone should impose his or her own moral views on others, and that Rihanna should not be "deemed guilty by association".
"I agree we should show displeasure against the United States but boycotting everything associated with America is difficult," he added.