The government is to set up a committee to vet foreign performers, ministers said Friday, just days after Beyonce cancelled a tour of the country amid fears of possible protest by Muslim groups.

The committee will set guidelines to tell foreign acts how to behave and dress in Malaysia, Culture and Arts Minister Rais Yatim said.

"We are not stopping foreigners from coming into Malaysia to perform, but rather we will be saying that this panel will provide to them the code that they will have to respect," he told reporters.

"They have to dress decently... and behave in a manner appropriate in Malaysia," Rais said.

Beyonce not coming our way

Beyonce this week scrapped her debut concert in Malaysia citing a scheduling conflict, but local sources said the main reason was concern about demonstrations from student groups over her dress.

Singer Gwen Stefani covered up during her August concert following protests.

The minister said the committee would also ensure that local establishments hired more Malaysian acts following complaints that many engage foreigners - mainly Filipinos - to perform.

But Malaysian Association of Hotels vice-president Ivo R Nekvapil noted the lack of good local performers.

"The problem many hotels face is the lack of good local groups. Some are not very professional," he told AFP .