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There’s speculation that protests from conservative Muslim groups in Malaysia prompted Beyonce to cancel her weekend concert there. But as Jennifer Pak reports, it’s just one of many recent cases that women’s rights activists say has damaged Malaysia’s reputation as a model Muslim country.

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MARCO WERMAN: Beyoncé was supposed to perform in Malaysia this weekend, but the show was postponed, again.  And that’s led to speculation that singer was scared off by protests.  Some Muslim groups have pressing for the government to ban Beyoncé as “immoral.”  It’s one of many recent cases that women’s rights activists say has damaged Malaysia’s reputation as a model Muslim country.  Jennifer Pak reports from Kuala Lumpur.

ANNOUNCER: I want to welcome Beyoncé to Malaysia and I hope you guys will join us and watch the videos and practice the steps.  Get ready for Beyoncé.

JENNIFER PAK: It would have been her Malaysian debut, but fans of Beyoncé were let down when she postponed her concert in Kuala Lumpur. It was the second time she had done so.  Local organizers say it was the artist’s decision and had nothing to do with external reasons, which they refused to elaborate on.  But there had been intensive pressure from the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, which had called for an outright ban of her concert.  Sixteen-year-old Yasmin Adnin was about to buy tickets for Beyoncé’s performance when she heard it was postponed.

YASMIN ADNIN: If so it’s because of political reasons then I think it’s really unfair because although it’s like a Muslim country, but then it’s not just Muslims here you know.

PAK: Some Malaysians speculate that Beyoncé didn’t want to tone down her racy outfits, as was thought to be the case when she canceled her Malaysia concert in 2007.  The country has a dress code for female performers, stating that everything from the top of the chest to the knees must be covered up.  But for The Pan-Malaysian Islamic party, or PAS, toning down her dress would still not be enough. It has often lobbied the government to ban western pop concerts, deeming them to be immoral or un-Islamic.   Kamaruzaman Mohamad is the Secretary for the Youth wing of PAS.  He says he knows his party’s views are unpopular.

KAMARUZAMAN MOHAMAD: Such people says that we are Taliban. Actually we are not Taliban. We are fundamentalists. Fundamentalists is not extremists. Fundamentalists mean we are trying our best to hold our principles.

PAK: Over 50 percent of Malaysia’s population is ethnically Malay and the constitution states that they have to be Muslim.  Unlike the country’s large Chinese and Indian communities, Malays are subject to Islamic law, in personal and family matters.  In August, the government banned Muslims from attending a Black-Eyed Peas concert because it was sponsored by beer giant, Guinness. It then reversed the ban.   And then there was the case of a model sentenced to canning for drinking beer. That caused an outcry. Women’s activist Norhayati Kaprawi says it’s part of a worrying trend.

NORHAYATI KAPRAWI: I just worry that Malaysia, Muslims in Malaysia, turn into this sadistic kind of society, and as [INDISCERNIBLE] Islam means harsh punishment. Islam is a religion of mercy and compassion.

PAK: But arguments over alcohol and attending pop concerts are threatening to overshadow Malaysia’s image as a model Muslim state.   As for the Beyoncé concert, no future date has been set.  For The World, this is Jennifer Pak, in Kuala Lumpur.

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