Malaysian officials have changed their minds and will permit Canadian pop star Avril Lavigne to perform a concert in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Earlier this month, the country's Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry labelled Lavigne's show unsuitable, especially since it is scheduled to take place two days before Malaysia's independence day celebrations.
The youth wing of a fundamentalist opposition party, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic party, had complained the punk-pop performer was "too sexy" for the conservative Asian nation.
On the weekend, however, the cultural officials announced they'd reversed their decision.
Muzahet Masruri, secretary general of the ministry, said on Saturday that after talking with the concert organizers, they decided Lavigne could perform.
He declined to give a specific reason, but said authorities were told the concert organizers had sold thousands of tickets and that if the concert were cancelled, it could hurt tourism.
The 23-year-old Lavigne is kicking off a month-long Asian tour with the Kuala Lumpur concert.
With files from the Associated PressConcertgoers blast 'shambolic' Winehouse performance
British singer Amy Winehouse's personal troubles spilled into her stage performance Wednesday night, sparking fans to boo her and then leave the kickoff show of her new U.K. tour.
Pearl Jam, Flaming Lips prepare for The Who tribute
Rock bands such as Pearl Jam, the Foo Fighters and the Flaming Lips have been polishing their cover versions of The Who hits for a Saturday night tribute to the British band.
Travis Barker, DJ AM in burn unit after plane crash
A Learjet has crashed in South Carolina killing four people and critically injuring former Blink 182 band member Travis Barker as well as DJ AM.
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