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Malaysiaâs Islamic opposition protests Mariah Careyâs âimmoralâ concert
Malaysiaâs opposition Islamic Party (PAS) on Thursday protested the governmentâs move to allow sexy American pop diva Mariah Carey to hold a concert next month, saying it would encourage moral degradation.
| How about if you just don't go? |
In a letter to Tourism Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, PASâ youth wing said Careyâs planned concert at a stadium in Kuala Lumpur on February 22 was also disrespectful to Muslims because it coincided with an Islamic religious holiday. "To allow a western artist, especially Mariah Carey who is well-known for her sexy clothing, to perform on Awal Muharram is disrespecting the sensitivities of Muslims and can be seen as challenging the status of Islam as Malaysiaâs official religion," it said. "We cannot accept such an immoral concert to be held on Awam Muharram or on any other days... it is not only an insult to Muslims but will encourage moral degradation especially among youths."
| Just looking for an excuse to seethe, aren't they? |
PAS youth wing noted that this was not the first time the tourism ministry had approved such concerts, noting that it also allowed major US rock group Linkin Park to perform here in October. It called for Careyâs concert, which is part of her "Charmbracelet" world tour, to be cancelled immediately and urged the government to apologise to Muslims, who make-up some 60 percent of Malaysiaâs 25 million population. The government should organise more programmes to benefit the Muslim community, rather than tarnish good eastern values by bringing in such "obscene and immoral culture," it added.
| Sounds to me like 40 percent of the population might not find it objectionable. |
Posted by: TS 2004-01-15 |
