Coldplay concert: PM to discuss with Mufti

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he will hold talks with the Federal Territories Mufti regarding the need to let the Coldplay concert go on as planned tomorrow (Nov 22) at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here.

He said that this is in view of the fact that there are lobbyists from the movement supporting Palestinians who support the organisation of the concert and, at the same time, there are other parties who suggest that the concert be called off.

"Coldplay is among the bands that support Palestine, so there is a small problem I have to say, even the previous government had approved it also. I will discuss this with the mufti regarding the situation.

"Because there are lobbyists from the Palestinian movement who support and have given their views to the Foreign Minister and my office has stated why should we stop a group that supports the Palestinian cause from performing," he said during the Prime Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said this when replying to a supplementary question from Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) regarding the government's stance on the organisation of the concert, given that Federal Territories Mufti Datuk Dr Luqman Abdullah had advised the concert be called off as it would not benefit society.

Previously, several other parties had also called for the concert to be called off to respect the current situation in Gaza, Palestine, besides concerns that the indecent incident committed by the pop rock group known as The 1975 in July may recur.

The British band Coldplay is scheduled to perform at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tomorrow as part of its Music of the Spheres World Tour.

-- BERNAMA