DBKL reviewing suitability of staging concerts, says Shahidan

 

PAS Youth had recently called on the government to cancel scheduled concerts featuring international artistes, warning it would mount nationwide protests. (Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will consider the suitability of staging concerts in the capital city following recent opposition to such events.

Federal territories minister Shahidan Kassim said this was to ensure that no concerts deemed offensive or inappropriate were organised.

“We shouldn’t get carried away by extreme forms of entertainment.

“Although many concerts in KL have been approved by the censorship committee, DBKL will continue to review the suitability of these events,” he said at a press conference.

This comes after PAS recently called on Muslims to oppose rock concerts in the wake of one by American singer Billie Eilish, warning that such events would only invite the “wrath of Allah”.

The Islamic party’s youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari recently called on the government to cancel scheduled concerts featuring international artistes and warned that unless this was done, there would be nationwide protests.

He said these concerts encouraged hedonism and were incompatible with the norms and values of Muslim life in Malaysia.

At the press conference today, Shahidan said there had also been complaints that such events do not promote social development. Entertainment should have a positive effect on the audience, he added.

He said he has yet to receive any information regarding PAS Youth’s demand to cancel concerts by international artistes but that he would be open to discussing the matter with any party to ensure the well-being of the people was maintained.

Responding to the comments by PAS Youth, the Sabah chief minister’s political secretary, Ceasar Mandela Malakun, urged concert organisers to choose the state as the venue to hold these events, saying that Sabah is “a land of music and songs”.

“Sabah welcomes concerts, including those that feature international artistes. We have hosted such events before and there has never been a problem,” said Malakun.

He rejected the notion that concerts featuring international artistes were a threat to the country. - FMT