'Tahfiz students' at concert were refugees, says businessperson

 

An individual who identified himself as Andrie Ung Han Xian has come forward to explain his decision to bring “tahfiz students” to the Kepci Music Fest in Selangor.

Ung, who is a businessperson in Kelantan, said the students he brought along were among a group of 700 orphans from 22 orphanages across the country.

He said that the “tahfiz students” who attended the concert, which drew flak from Perikatan Nasional Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, were actually Rohingya refugees.

“The children wearing green robes and white serban were from the Madrasah Watahfiz al-Quran Rohingya TTDI Jaya. They are Muslim Rohingya refugee children and hardly know how to communicate in Malay.

“Our purpose (for bringing them) was to entertain them because Islam itself does not differentiate between their borders and their status as illegal immigrants.

“We also urge the authorities and those who believe they are more Muslim to be more cognisant of the welfare of these children instead of just speaking about them,” Ung said in a statement today.

Fadhli earlier questioned the rationale behind inviting tahfiz students to the Kepci Music Fest held in conjunction with fast food chain KFC’s 50th anniversary, at the Melawati Stadium in Shah Alam, last Saturday.

He was referring to viral videos of the individuals donning skullcaps and head scarves.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail reportedly graced the three-hour concert.

Popular acts entertained the over 8,000-strong crowd including Amy Search, Siti Nurhaliza, Ella, Misha Omar, and Bunkface, among others.

Ung clarified that neither KFC nor the government were involved nor informed of the presence of the students on that day.

“This initiative is sincerely to give an opportunity to orphans who are less able to experience attending the festival and celebrate together.

“Our purpose was to invite them together to liven the festival which also had children’s games such as a bouncing castle and others.

“We also understood that the concert would feature a performance by Malaysia’s No 1 singer Siti Nurhaliza and Bunga, who were dressed modestly,” he said.

Ung added that he was saddened by the criticism faced on the matter. - Mkini