Avril Lavigne concert cancelled
By LOH FOON FONG (original article here)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Avril Lavigne concert in Stadium Merdeka, here, on Aug 29 has been cancelled.
Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Shafie Apdal said that the concert falls during the nation's independence period and was not a suitable time to hold such a concert.
There are a lot of events on Aug 29 and the Ministry does not want the independence and the near Ramadan month to be filled with such pop and rock culture, he said.
"As the Minister of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage, we should be instilling good culture in the young but here we are allowing other parties to organise things," he said Wednesday after launching the IDeAS for enhancing Integrity book.
Moreover, the organisers were promoting the event even before they got approval from the relevant agencies, he said.
"All organisers, local and foreign, should adhere to the rules and regulations before promoting the concert and selling tickets to the public," he said, adding that Lavigne's organisers should have sought advice from the Kuala Lumpur City Council or the Ministry.
Asked if he knew why they had promoted the concert before it was approved, he said he did not know.
Asked if the Ministry's decision was in response to PAS Youth's call for cancellation, he said "no."
Oh for FUCK's SAKE!!!
Again am I COMPLETELY mortified that I am a Malaysian (read here for the other reason). Why is it that our godforsaken government sees the need to cave in to the whims and fancies of one, i repeat ONE group of 'youths' and I use this term every so lightly because this singular group is a sad sad misrepresentation of the majority of youths here.
I'm HOPPING mad! So this letter that was sent into The New Straits Times Online Letters section by a R.S from Petaling Jaya will have to be an indication of my thoughts and feelings.
AVRIL LAVIGNE CONCERT: Don't be so narrow-minded
I READ with utter disgust and increasing frustration your report about the Pas Youth Council (Federal Territory division) trying to get the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry to scuttle another concert by a foreign artiste -- this time by pop rock singer Avril Lavigne ("Protest over concert" -- NST, Aug 11).
Where did the Pas Youth Council's Kamaruzaman Mohamad get the idea that he and his merry band have the right to be our moral guardians?
If he's so concerned about Malaysian youths, then he would do well to look into the problems of rampaging Mat Rempit, the majority of whom are made up of teenagers.
Not to mention the thousands of Malaysians who are drug addicts and who resort to petty crimes to finance their addiction. These are the people who need help, not music enthusiasts who just want to have a good time.
If anyone finds Avril Lavigne so distasteful, then don't go to see the show. Many Malay-sians would like to hear her sing and, believe me, they would not turn into moral degenerates just because of one concert.
I suppose the ministry will again give in to this group of bigots, regardless of the views of the majority. I find it increasingly infuriating that this country has to live by the moral code of a bunch of narrow-minded people who insist that every Malaysian should toe the line of their rigid and dogmatic views.
Where is my right as a citizen of a supposedly democratic country? The right to live my life as I see fit as long as I don't harm anybody else?
This is a basic civil liberty which is the inalienable right of every Malaysian, which lately has been hijacked by a group of demagogues who should be keeping their noses out of matters that do not concern them.
Well said R.S.. Well said..
1 comments:
hah. what a coinky-dink - we blogged about the same thing!
Post a Comment