Written by Wong Choon Mei, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - Even before Chris Martin and his British rock band Coldplay set foot in Malaysia, controversy, calls for an 11th-hour ban and bomb threats have started to shake the local authorities' resolve to 'let the show go on'.
Police have been forced to issue a full body and bag checks at all entrances to the Bukit Jalil stadium, where some 75,000 eager Malaysian fans are expected to attend the concert here tonight (Nov 22). Throwable objects will also be banned, including flares, firecrackers, helmets, laser pointers, sharp and dangerous objects, alcoholic beverages, walking sticks, power-banks, bottled water, lighters, electronic cigarettes, drones, and megaphones.
The extra-strict police action comes amid demands by hardline Muslims groups to spurn Western influence and goods to show solidarity with the Palestinians, now locked in a bloody conflict with Israel. Other reasons given include that Western music such as Coldplay's concert will make Malaysian youths "stupid".
The Mufti of Federal Territories also argued that the British band supported the LGBT movement, which he warned was against the morals and culture of the people here, especially the Muslims.
ARCHAIC & IGNORANT?
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Yet the public response appears to be overwhelmingly for the Coldplay concert to go on. Both Muslim and non-Muslim fans in predominantly-Muslim Malaysia not only dismissed the warnings as archaic but rebuked the hardliners for being "ignorant" and using religion to play politics.
"It is as long as concert goers know their limitations as Muslims. We do not do things that they tell us to. If the organizer is pressured to cancel, I am okay with it but there must be a refund. But if the argument is because of the sensitivities linked to Palestine, they have been in a crisis for 74 years and not over a month ago when the violence broke out," Shahir Omar, a 33-year-old Muslim photographer, was reported as telling the NST.
"Coldplay is a band which spreads progressive messages in their music, The band has a long history of supporting Palestine and against Israeli occupation. The call for cancelling Coldplay by citing support for Palestine is counterproductive. It only undermines the global solidarity movement for the struggle of Palestinian liberation," former member of Parliament Tian Chua, a non-Muslim, said on Facebook.
"Music is universal and fans are matured adults who can judge the good and the bad. We are going to the concert to enjoy and appreciate the music and the showmanship, not to hear Coldplay giving lectures on the LGBT," said Erme Hartini Zulkifli, a 39-year-old Muslim IT analyst.
CHRIS MARTIN AFTER THE MATT HEALY NIGHTMARE
Coldplay is the next big British band to hold a concert in Kuala Lumpur after The 1975 in July. The 1975's rowdy front-man Matt Healy had criticized the Malaysian government for refusing to recognize LGBT rights and infamously kissed his male bandmate Ross MacDonald full on the lips while onstage.
The 1975 concert was abruptly halted and the band rushed out of the country, with Matt Healy claiming they feared arrest.
"Matt Healy is not Chris Martin. Chris is cerebral and classy but Matt Healy is just playing bad boy to further his own agenda and enhance himself as an outspoken rebel. But to many discerning fans, he is actually the spoilt brat who keeps talking about sensitivity and respect for people when he himself doesn't respect those who have different views from him," an avid Coldplay fan told Politics Now!
BOMB THREATS HIT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
The Coldplay concert comes amid a string of bomb threats against several international schools in the country - but whether there is a direct link between the two is not clear.
“A total of seven schools received bomb threats in Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Kajang, Kuala Langat, and Subang Jaya. We are investigating the matter now but we do believe that it is a hoax,” Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan was quoted as saying by The Star.
The threats were made anonymously via email to schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and some other states. Police have since confirmed the threats were hoaxes after evacuating the affected schools.
“Investigations at the schools found no buried explosives as claimed. The email is a hoax aimed at causing widespread concern to both parents and school authorities," said the police chief.
What will happen at the Chris Martin & Coldplay concert in Kuala Lumpur tonight? Hopefully, only fantastic music and first-class entertainment!
Written by Wong Choon Mei, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
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