The North American and European shows in Madonna's current worldwide Rebel Heart tour include a segment in which she performs a medley of Holy Water, a song from her latest album Rebel Heart, and 1990 hit Vogue while scantily clad nuns pole-dance on cross-shaped stripper poles.

Live Nation Lushington's statement adds that the organisers acknowledged the "overtly sexually explicit" and "religious content" deemed unsuitable by MDA .

"Minor adjustments were made to ensure R18 licensing conditions could be met without compromise to the delivery of a first-rate and world-class performance."

However, the statement also stresses that the concert's setlist is not set in stone and that Madonna will have final say in how the show turns out.

"The final running order and set list for the Singapore performance will be determined by the artiste and revealed at the show itself within the set guidelines."

Besides Singapore, Madonna's other regional stops include Hong Kong, Thailand, Macau and Manila.

In 1993, the 57-year-old American singer's controversial Girlie Show World Tour was banned here when police said her performances in the tour show "border on the obscene... (and are) known to be objectionable to many on moral and religious grounds".