AFP/Kuala Lumpur


US pop singer Ke$ha has been forced to cancel a concert due to take place in Muslim-majority Malaysia yesterday after authorities said it would undermine religious and cultural sensitivities.
“We are distraught to confirm that the show (at Kuala Lumpur stadium) will be cancelled,” concert organiser Livescape said in a statement, adding that it was losing 1.1mn ringgit ($350,000) due to ban.
Livescape said it had received a letter from the authorities on the decision to ban the concert “at the 11th hour” on Friday, despite agreeing to “modify the show to suit the Malaysian culture and sensitivities”.
The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia said in a brief statement Friday that it had rejected the application for the concert on grounds that it “touches on religious sensitivities and cultural values of Malaysians”. Ke$ha’s MTV reality series ‘My Crazy Beautiful Life’ has featured her bizarre behaviour in the past, including drinking her own urine.
Some of her songs refer to sex and alcohol, which are considered taboo subjects by most in the country.
Livescape said it had made adjustments to Ke$ha’s song lyrics, wardrobe changes, and had modified a set list to specifically adhere to the guidelines set forth by the authorities.
Last month, Malaysia pulled the plug on a planned concert by US heavy metal group Lamb of God after religious authorities declared the band’s music
religiously offensive.