Malaysia has been testing the waters of international opinion and may find them still a little too hot.  This is after the caning of a Muslim woman caught drinking beer was postponed until after Ramadan, then suspended temporarily as the case was put under review.  In another case, the government forbade Muslims to attend a Guinness-sponsored Black-Eyed Peas concert, then revoked the order.  The country's ban on alcohol-sponsored public concerts had been excepted for this event to boost tourism.  

 The caning sentence was delayed, some say, because of the possible damage a public caning for drinking beer could do to the country's reputation abroad. One wonders whether the first woman to be caned in Malaysia may be (unwillingly) spared thanks to a bout of mercy or because of just how bad this sentence looks to outside observers. Skeptics inside Malaysia also worry over the motives; as one letter to the editor in the New Straits Times asked, "Is this because of the unwanted attention worldwide or is it because of compassion?"  

 As for the Black-Eyed Peas concert, little has been said about why the ban was lifted but I'm a little mystified that any company would agree to sponsor an event where its product isn't even permitted to be sold and its name not included in promotional materials. This isn't the first time Western musicians have been criticized for their concert appearances in Malaysia, and my guess is it won't be the last.