Gwen Stefaini, pictured in Colombia, is currently on a world tour

The star, 37, had a different outfit for every song at Kuala Lumpur's Bukit Jalil arena on Tuesday, but made sure she was covered up throughout the show.

She agreed to dress down after Islamic critics claimed her raunchy costumes could corrupt the country's youth.

No photographers were allowed into the concert, and fans were made to leave their cameras outside.

Before the concert, Stefani was quoted in the local press as saying she had made a "major sacrifice" by changing her show.

"I've been in the music industry for 20 years and this is the first time that I'm facing opposition from people who have misunderstood me," she told Galaxie magazine.

Fans had to leave their cameras outside the venue

But as she took to the stage, the singer announced she was "very inspired" by the 7,000-strong crowd.

"It is great to be here again," she told them.

Stefani dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt, elbow-length black gloves and a striped hot-pants suit for her first number, The Sweet Escape.

Later, she wore a cape and tied a cloth around her waist like a skirt while performing hits like Wind It Up, Hollaback Girl and What You Waiting For?

Official guidelines about performances in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country, say female artists must cover up from the top of the chest to the knees.

When you come to any country you have to respect the culture Linda Yusof Gwen Stefani fan

Performers are also forbidden from jumping, shouting or embracing members of the audience.

The National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students had called for Stefani's gig to be cancelled because of her "indecent dressing".

The opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party also accused Stefani of promoting promiscuity and corrupting the country's youth.

But most fans at the concert thought the critics had gone too far.

"I think they were making a big hoo-ha for no reason," said 15-year-old Denise Chan.

Stefani owns the L.A.M.B. clothing label

"Even the local artists, they dress even much worse. Much more indecent."

Other fans said their esteem for Stefani has gone up because of her respect for Malaysia's cultural values.

"All international artists have to dress down a bit to respect our religion. When you come to any country you have to respect the culture," said Linda Yusof, 33.

Other artists have fallen foul of the country's regulations in recent months.

Kanye West was forbidden to sing his hit single Jesus Walks because of religious sensitivities, while a local company that organised a Pussycat Dolls concert was fined 10,000 Ringgit (�1,400) after the US girl group flouted decency regulations.

Beyonce could be the next western star to face censorship, with a concert scheduled for the Malaysian capital in November.

"We've informed Beyonce's management about this issue of clothes, but it takes some of the fun out of it," said Razlan Ahmad Razali, chairman of Pineapple Concerts, which is organizing the show.

"We know that she often wears miniskirts and clothes that expose her navel during her performances.