Hardline Islamists today protested against an upcoming concert by popular but controversial Indonesian singer Inul Daratista, charging that her gyrating dance movements are "sexually suggestive" and "dangerous".

The opposition Islamic party PAS said it would ask the government to cancel the May 1 performance and would stage protests if it went ahead.

"We are writing a letter to the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry asking it to cancel the concert," PAS youth information chief Mazlan Aliman told AFP .

"Inul has not released a single album in Indonesia. Her popularity is based solely on the way she gyrates her hips," Mazlan said.

Erotic performance

Inul's erotic performance of dangdut - a blend of Arab, Indian and Malay-inspired music popular in Indonesia - was "dangerous and would encourage moral degradation especially among youths," he said.

"She is merely thought of as a pornographic singer with her sexually-suggestive dancing," he said.