Anwar Says Coldplay Concert To Go On While He Speaks To FT Mufti
He also claimed that the band is currently in support of Palestine.
By Dale John Wong — 21 Nov 2023, 01:32 PM
Amid the back-and-forth regarding the Coldplay concert scheduled for 22 November, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that the band is in support of Palestine
According to the New Straits Times, Anwar, during a parliament session today, 21 November, stated that the British band is Pro-Palestinian in response to a question posed by Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, Perikatan Nasional's member of parliament (MP) for Machang.
This occurred during the Prime Minister's Question Time, during which he declared that the band was one of several such bands that have openly declared support for Palestine during its protracted conflict with Israeli forces.
During the session, the MP quizzed Anwar on the government's stance regarding the concert, as well as whether or not other events would be held to help people better understand the Israel-Palestine conflict in Gaza.
Leading up to the Kuala Lumpur leg of Coldplay's Music of The Spheres World Tour, there have been growing calls for the concert to be cancelled
Just recently, Malaysian Muslim Solidarity (MUIS) urged for the event to be scrapped, claiming that it would be insensitive to hold such an event amidst the ongoing crisis in Palestine.
"MUIS urges the authorities to consider cancelling this concert out of respect for our brothers in Palestine, where more than 11,000 lives have been lost due to bombings and attacks," said MUIS chairman Datuk Zamri Hashim.
Back in May 2023, PAS central working committee member Nasrudin Hassan also raised concerns about the possible spread of hedonism and deviant cultures in Malaysia should the concert be allowed to happen.
Anwar's remarks have underscored his decision to let the Coldplay concert in Malaysia go on.
He added that he would also be meeting with Islamic leaders to clarify the situation.
"We had previously approved the Coldplay concert due to their stance on Palestine," Anwar was quoted as saying by Sinar Daily.
"However, I will be meeting with the [Federal Territories mufti] to address this situation, as there are advocates from the Palestinian movement who have expressed their support and provided insights to my foreign minister and office.
"They have raised concerns about why a group that actively supports the Palestinian struggle is being prevented from performing," he added.
