Malaysia is one strict country. Recently Gwen Stefani gave a concert there in which she had to cover up from head to toe, a move she called “a major sacrifice.” But she did it for her fans (or for the cash/publicity) and the world kept spinning. Beyonce, however, has refused to comply with the dress code, and her concert has been canceled.

“According to the rules introduced by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage in 2005 there must be no hugging or kissing audience members or fellow artists, no jumping or shouting, no throwing objects onstage or at the audience and no foul language.

“Clothes cannot have obscene or drug-related images or messages, and female performers must show no skin from the tops of their chests to their knees.”

[From Us Weekly]

As I said when I covered the Gwen Stefani story, I’m a big “when in Rome” type. Beyonce wears some nastily skanky outfits, in my highly-cultured opinion. I’d love it if they could force some dress code on her here, too. Some type of pledge, maybe, like “I, Beyonce Knowles, promise never to wear anything designed by my mother, Tina Knowles. I promise never to wear anything designed by her clothing line, the House or Dereron. I pledge never to wear fur, or outfits with bizarre cutout patterns. I promise to stop exposing my armpits every chance I get.” I think that’d be fair not just to Malaysia, but to the whole world.

“Beyoncé apparently isn’t ready to restrain her jelly. Not even for the sake of her fans. The Grammy winner has canceled what was due to be her first concert in Malaysia next month, in the wake of protests over her booty-baring stage antics and increased pressure to conform to the country’s hard-line Muslim regime’s ultrastrict dress codes for female performers.

“Knowles’ International Creative Management agents, however, said the scuttled show was “due to a scheduling conflict” and nothing more. ‘It is with regret that we announce the cancellation of the Beyoncé Experience. It was to mark the very first time the performer would bring her show to Malaysia.’

“The statement confirmed Friday’s announcement by Kuala Lumpur-based concert promoter Pineapple Concerts that the plug had been pulled; Pineapple, however, declined to give a reason. The news follows an uptick in protests by several conservative groups, including the nearly 10,000-strong National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students, urging the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage to stop the concert from taking place.

“While Kuala Lumpur is a tour no-go, the singer has scheduled a gig to take place in nearby Jakarta on Nov. 1. While Indonesia is also a Muslim state, it has not set any guidelines in place for visiting performers, and Beyoncé will be able to don any of Mama Knowles’ cleavage-baring outfits she pleases and will also be able to jump, shout, curse and embrace audience members onstage—things she would not be allowed to do in Malaysia.

“Other than Stefani, acts that did recently make the highly restricted trip to the Malaysian stage include Kanye West, Earth, Wind & Fire and the Pussycat Dolls, whose promoters were fined nearly $3,000 after the girl group wore too-skimpy outfits onstage and danced in a ‘sexually suggestive’ way.”

[From E! News]

I can’t believe any country would ever let the Pussycat Dolls perform if they could find a reason to keep them out. I think they’re too slutty for pretty much everywhere… except porn. They could do well in porn. Seriously, Beyonce, covering up a bit won’t kill you. I’m not even saying this from Malaysia’s standpoint, I just mean it in life in general. I know I’m going to sound like grandma here, but must we expose our cleavage and our legs and our arms and our butt? Can’t it just be about the performance, instead of your booty? I mean I know the booty is nice, but will keeping it under wraps for just one night be so hard?

Picture Note by Jaybird: Here’s Beyonce leaving “TRL” on 02-28-07. Header image of Beyonce, actually looking decent and keeping her armpits to herself, at the party for Usher’s new fragrance last Tuesday. Images thanks to PR Photos.