“This is a small problem, I have to say, even the previous government had approved [the concert],” Anwar said. “So, I will discuss with the federal territories mufti on the current situation as there is some pro-Palestine lobbying movement that had given its views to the foreign minister as well as my office on why there are calls to oppose the Coldplay concert although they actually support the Palestinian struggle.”
Luqman Abdullah, the federal territories mufti, called on Saturday for the government to cancel the Coldplay concert. He appealed to the Malaysian public not to support the concert, adding that it would not benefit society.
“Because other issues were raised, we agreed to discuss the matter again,” Anwar told parliament on Tuesday.
Malaysian Islamists say ‘deviant’ Coldplay shouldn’t hold gig given war in Gaza
Malaysian Islamists say ‘deviant’ Coldplay shouldn’t hold gig given war in Gaza
Islamist party PAS and Zamri Hashim, chairman of Malaysia’s Majlis Ulama Ikatan Muslimin religious council, also called last week for the Coldplay concert to be cancelled.
Coldplay is scheduled to perform in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday as part of their Music of the Spheres World Tour.
The band has been an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause for years, posting a link to the song Freedom For Palestine by the OneWorld collective on its official Facebook page in 2011.
03:01
Malaysia’s leader condemns Israel over Gaza strikes as thousands attend pro-Palestinian rally
Malaysia’s leader condemns Israel over Gaza strikes as thousands attend pro-Palestinian rally
Meanwhile, PAS MP and information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said in parliament on Tuesday that it was not possible to boycott all pro-Israel companies, including certain car brands and phone companies.
Ahmad Fadhli argued that there are some products or services that cannot be shunned, such as Facebook and others.
‘Quaking in their boots’: Malaysians, Indonesians ditch brands over war in Gaza
‘Quaking in their boots’: Malaysians, Indonesians ditch brands over war in Gaza
“We cannot do it all. Don’t look down at the people’s efforts to boycott products by companies that are supportive of Israel,” he said while debating a supply bill at the committee stage for the sports ministry on Tuesday.
He was responding to remarks made by a government backbencher, Pakatan Harapan politician Chong Zhemin, who hit out at Perikatan Nasional for what he called double standards when pushing for the boycott of brands that support Israel.
On Monday, Chong asked if the government of Kelantan state was still using luxury cars as official vehicles.
“Do you want to boycott or not?” Chong said.