Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens
© AFP/DDP/File Juergen Schwarz

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Kelantan state is looking for sponsors to bring the singer to Malaysia next year, as part of a plan to attract Western performers to the state, said official Takiyuddin Hassan.

"We are receptive to concerts based on the Islamic guidelines and the artistes must meet certain criteria such as positive lyrics, attire and showmanship," Takiyuddin was quoted as saying in the Star daily.

Kelantan is the only Malaysian state governed by Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), a fundamentalist Islamic party.

Earlier this week Kelantan lifted a 15-year ban on concerts, including rock music performances, but set out guidelines for events such as strict dress codes and separate seating for single men and women.

Takiyuddin said single men and women would still be separated at the proposed concert, and that certain rock tunes would be allowed but only if they espoused religious virtues, the newspaper said.

Cat Stevens had a string of hits in the 1960s and 1970s with tracks such as "Moon Shadow" and "Wild World", but in 1977 he converted to Islam, changed his name to Yusuf Islam, and pledged to devote his life to the Islamic faith.

For many years he turned his back on secular music, but last month he released his first commercial album for nearly three decades.

PAS has foundered in Malaysia since a humiliating election defeat in 2004, which saw the loss of its former heartland of Terengganu state.

The party has since undergone a series of reforms to make itself more attractive to Malaysia's minority non-Muslim Chinese and Indian communities.

©AFP