American pop diva Mariah Carey will hold her concert in Malaysia next month despite Islamic pressure for it to be cancelled but she cannot wear sexy or revealing attire under strict stage rules, officials and organisers said today.

The opposition Islamic Party (PAS) has called for Carey's concert at a Kuala Lumpur stadium on Feb 22 to be cancelled, saying it would encourage moral degradation and was also disrespectful to Muslims because it coincided with an Islamic religious holiday.

But Eric Chen, spokesman for concert organiser Galaxy Production, told AFP that the date of Carey's concert has been fixed much earlier as part of her "Charmbracelet" world tour and was not intended to offend Muslims.

He said the singer, who would also be performing in other Muslim nations including neighbouring Indonesia, would respect local sensitivities and abide by dressing guidelines issued by the tourism ministry.

"We will follow the guidelines. Carey is also performing in Jakarta and other Middle East countries and there are no problems there. The Malaysian public is more interested in her singing," Chen said.

Carey has been briefed on the Malaysian culture and how she should be dressed for her concert here and "will not wear bikini costumes," he added.

Dress code

PAS in a letter to the Tourism Ministry yesterday said Carey was well-known for her sexy clothing and such "obscene and immoral culture" would tarnish good eastern values and weaken the morals of youths.

But Deputy Tourism Minister Fu Ah Kiow told The Star newspaper that all artistes performing in Malaysia, including Carey, were subjected to a dress code as part of conditions for her concert permit.

Under the general guidelines, the singer cannot wear attires that are too sexy or revealing, officials said.

Predominantly-Muslim Malaysia also imposed strict stage rules on major US rock group Linkin Park during their concert here in October, including requiring them to cover themselves from chest to knee and barred them from leaping around or be "raunchy".

Muslims make-up some 60 percent of Malaysia's 25 million multi-racial population. - AFP