Opposition party PAS planned to protest at a concert by the German rock band Scorpions tonight because it was "immoral and un-Islamic", officials said.

"We will be distributing pamphlets to the concert-goers, advising them to avoid social ills, not to participate in drugs and other activities," PAS youth chief Salahuddin Ayub told AFP.

In a letter to the government the youth wing of the opposition party said the concert was an "insult" to Malaysian Muslims because it would be held just a day after an Islamic religious event, Isra' Mikhraj.

PAS had called for the concert's immediate cancellation and urged the government to apologise to Muslims, who make up some 60 percent of Malaysia's 25 million population.

"Such concerts would encourage hedonism and moral degradation especially among youths," Salahuddin said.

He said that it was not the first time the government had approved such concerts, noting that Scorpions had performed in 1994.

Major US rock group Linkin Park was also allowed to perform in Malaysia just before the start of the Ramadhan fasting month and pop diva Mariah Carey held a concert this year, which also coincided with an Islamic festival, he said.