Twerking Star Leaves Thai Junta Chief Hot And Bothered

BANGKOK, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Jun, 2017 ) - Twerking nine to three is the new way to make a living for a teenage Thai music star whose eye-popping dance moves have enraged the country's military strongman.

Country music singer Lamyai Haithongkham, known for her signature "Nine Levels" twerking routine, has become a sensation in her homeland thanks to the kind of gyrating move that might even make Miley Cyrus pause for thought.

But now the 18-year-old has agreed to tone down her dancing after coming under fire from the country's military leader. "When I talk to my friends I joke that we will have to reduce her twerks from nine to three," Lamyai's manager Prachakai Naowarat, told AFP on Wednesday.

"But yes, after the prime minister mentioned her name we will tone down her dance moves and her wardrobe." Lamyai's onstage antics and skimpy outfits have won legions of fans.

Web clips of her performances have racked up more than 240 million views in the last six months.

But one man remains unimpressed: Thailand's mercurial junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha. In less than a week Prayut has brought up Lamyai's dance moves with the press on three separate occasions, blasting the singer for her skimpy clothing and suggesting that foreigners are to blame for encouraging such lewdness.

"Just because foreigners are doing it doesn't mean we have to," Prayut told reporters in his first tirade on Friday. "The way she dances, she's about to show all her genitals already. I don't want to talk about it, people will say I'm crazy.

But I want everyone to help solve this problem." He brought up the singer's dance moves again on Monday and Tuesday, although he appeared mollified once told the young star would be more demure in future.