"KUALA LUMPUR: The final decision on Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne's concert will only be made next week.
As for now, it is postponed and not canceled, said Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal yesterday.
However, he confirmed that the concert would not be held on Aug 29 as originally scheduled because it would clash with the National Day celebrations.
"During this Merdeka (independence) month, we will also be holding religious programmes, including tahlil prayers at the National Mosque on Aug 29.
"We don't want to promote values that are foreign to Malaysian culture," he said at a press conference in conjunction with the National Day celebrations which would kick off on Aug 29.
Mohd Shafie reminded concert organisers not to sell tickets until they obtained approvals from his ministry and the local authorities.
"The organisers submitted their application only a few days ago," he said.
It was earlier reported that Lavigne's The Best Damn Tour concert was cancelled because it was deemed "too sexy" and inappropriate for the National Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, the show's promoter Galaxy Group said it had yet to decide on whether to request for a new date.
In the past, the Galaxy Group had brought in famous entertainers including Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys, My Chemical Romance, Mariah Carey and Alan Tam.
Freelance promoter Cynthia Chen said foreign event promoters and artistes may not understand the situation and it may scare them away.
"They will have the wrong impression of us."
Chen had faced the same situation in 1995. "We wanted to bring in Rod Stewart that year. The Home Ministry told us to have it earlier than Aug 31 and told us to shift the location from Selangor to Kuala Lumpur. Despite doing everything, the concert was canceled," she said, adding that they had to refund the money for the 60,000 tickets sold.
Pineapple Concerts chairman Razlan Ahmad Razali said the proposed cancellation of Lavigne's concert was unfair to the promoters.
"I pity the organizers. They most probably won't get their money back if the concert is canceled.
"The ministry has to understand the scenario faced by the promoters. We do not have the artistes' schedule months in advance. On an ordinary basis, we have less than three months to work on the concert and to prepare the necessary documents. Plus, we have to start promoting the concert as soon as possible. We are constrained by time."
Razlan said promoters were now cautious about bringing foreign acts here.
"We want the best entertainment for the people but such incidents dampen our spirits," he said.
Last month, the concert by Indonesian dangdut star Inul Daratista at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil was canceled due to permit complications and for security reasons.
In 2007, Pineapple Concerts was asked to cancel Beyonce's show due to the singer's refusal to abide by the country's dress code for performers."
Quoted from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/20/nation/20080820160550&sec=nation
Now this really sucks~! For some lame excuses, "they" decide to make things not better, but for worse. Indeed like my previous post, quoted from NST online, if "they" have nothing much to do and too much time to spend on, why don't spend time and focus on other matters?
ARrgggghhh!!!!! I just don't wanna write no more about this issue, expressing something here is just not enough! Well, indeed, if the concert is canceled, the ministry especially the one who makes the decision SHOULD BE CURSED~! This is not only by me, but all Avril fans not only in Malaysia, but world wide. Avril is no ordinary rock star, she's a QUEEN! Her concert, her songs, her lyrics, her music, her rhythm etc are all transparent. These lead to show the real self in us, not wearing a mask all the time. Now I'm agree with that a lot! Can't survive without wearing masks in public? Ridiculous...
Because the date is near to National Day of Malaysia? Rock & Punk concerts would bring negative effects to the youth? Other religious events are held during the same day? etc... ABSURD~! These are just lame excuses! Very PATHETIC... After "they" have won the state election, so "they" think "they" are the ruler and king! Screw "them"! What were your pledges? Serve the public, serve the community, and serve the nation? Yeah right, if you can't give the public what they ask for, don't promise.
