Why Would Hard Rock Cafe Want To Open A New Outlet In Putrajaya?

PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa (pic) has poured scorn on Putrajaya's suggestion for an Islamic Hard Rock Cafe in the administrative capital, saying that it does not make sense.

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He said there is no single Hard Rock Cafe in the world that did not serve alcohol or entertainment.

"Where in the world is there a Hard Rock Cafe without any entertainment or alcohol. If there is, please show it to us," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had suggested the world-famous bistro chain can operate in Putrajaya and feature nasyid (Islamic gospel songs) and could even be the first in the world not to serve alcohol.

Husam, who was PAS's candidate for Putrajaya in the last general election, said during his campaigning, Putrajaya's residents were requesting for more religious schools and were complaining over the lack of parking.

"There were no requests from residents for a Hard Rock Cafe," he said.

He said Umno and Barisan Nasional leaders often come up with unrealistic proposals and noted the current rising cost of living due to price hikes and subsidy cuts were because Pakatan Rakyat failed to takeover Putrajaya.
"Why are all these happening? This is because we failed to takeover Putrajaya in the last general election, " he said.

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The city planning for Putrajaya was fashioned after Paris, France and not Medina in Saudi Arabia as claimed by certain parties.

"One of the cities that influenced the design of Putrajaya was Paris, Finace.

"An example of our inspiration would be the Champs-Élysées, the city's main boulevard which cuts across the centre of Paris," he wrote, adding that it was also a shopping and tourist hub.

"However, we did not want Putrajaya to be a carbon copy of Champs-Élysées, nor did we want it to be filled with government buildings only," the former Prime Minister wrote.

On the controversy relating to the opening a Hard Rock Cafe, Mahathir said he had not been to one himself, and does not know the kind of entertainment provided in the place.

"I do not approve of nude dancers and alcohol, however if the establishment can accommodate some decent entertainment, then I do not see the harm of having an outlet here in Putrajaya," he said.

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"Take the New Year celebrations in Putrajaya for example, it received a crowd of 100,000 people who were entertained with some music and dance, and to my understanding, this form of entertainment is in no way against the ethics of Putrajaya."

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Putrajaya Corporation president, Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat said prominent businessman, Tan Sri Syed Yusof Tun Syed Nasir had agreed to open a Hard Rock Cafe at Menara Ikhlas in Precinct 3, here.

In his Facebook page, he had also shared photos of Syed Yusof's visit last Saturday, and an afternoon tea session with several media members before a visit to the site for the proposed Hard Rock Cafe Putrajaya.

Aseh said Syed Yusof had visited the corporation to seek investment opportunities.

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Its president, Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat, said the process was in its early stages.
"An application to open a HRC in Menara Ikhlas has yet to be submitted for consideration and approval."

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This will be the fifth Hard Rock Cafe in the country after the ones in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Malacca and Kota Kinabalu. "Hard Rock Cafe Putrajaya will open in three or four months' time," Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat said.

In a press release yesterday, Perkasa Youth head Irwan Fahmi Ideris said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had based Putrajaya on Medina, whereby a mosque was the centrepiece of the city. "Thus, it is wrong for a city based on Islam to be tarnished by a restaurant-cum-bar that serves liquor openly and provides 'wild' entertainment," he said.

Irwan said Putrajaya Corporation should consider alternative ways to attract investment and tourists and not adopt measures that will affect the comfort and morality of the locals.

"Not only would Hard Rock Cafe cause moral decay, but it is incompatible with Putrajaya's function as an administrative capital," he said.

"MESEJ MUDAH:
KAMI TIDAK MAHU PUTRAJAYA DIKAITKAN DENGAN BRAND FRANCHISE ARAK DAN HIBURAN BARAT! Isunya bukan jual arak, tapi imej arak yang akan memalukan Putrajaya. Pergilah buka hotel Hard Rock tempat lain."

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An earlier announcement that Putrajaya might have a Hard Rock Cafe had resulted in criticism. A Facebook account named "Rakyat Malaysia Menentang Hard Rock Cafe dan Kelab Malam di Putrajaya" (Malaysians against Hard Rock Cafe and nightclub in Putrajaya) was set up, with over 7,000 "likes".

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The enthusiasm for Hard Rock Cafe was not shared by all netizens, though - with some like Azniza Syazwan saying "certainly not by having Hard Rock Cafe", while others like Shamsul Sulaiman pointed out that Putrajaya had other attractions that made it fun.

"I would appreciate night life. Hard Rock Cafe, where we can eat western food and listen to music. Eateries, live bands, expos, probably activities or carnivals. People would like to eat, chat and have a nice view while enjoying their meals," said Amirul Adrianne.

CiViC: Putrajaya is the country's administrative capital, not its Islamic capital. If they are so persistent about it, please also ban everything else in Putrajaya: cinemas, cafes, shopping complexes, fireworks shows, K-Pop concerts and the list goes on.

Changeagent: I agree with Lim Chong Leong that this is all ‘sandiwara’ by Perkasa and the federal government given that an alcohol ban has always been in place in Putrajaya. Everyone knows that eateries like TGIF are not allowed to serve alcohol there.

“Hard Rock can open its doors, but it has to follow our conditions.” “We have guidelines, and we will obey those guidelines,” Tengku Adnan told reporters at his ministry here.

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Operators of the world-famous Hard Rock Cafe will be forbidden to serve alcohol and can only feature “clean” live music at its premises if it should open an outlet in Putrajaya, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor pledged today.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said an outlet in Putrajaya could even be the first Hard Rock Cafe in the world not to serve alcohol.

"We allow clean entertainment, not menjolok mata or indecent... or memberahikan or merangsang orang.

"Hard Rock Cafe can even run with nasyid... what's wrong?" Tengku Adnan asked at a press conference in the country's administrative capital today.

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A day after Perkasa Youth complained about plans to open a Hard Rock Café branch in the administrative capital, Putrajaya Corporation now says they will reject any such proposal

"Even if the proposal is approved in the future, Putrajaya Corporation will consider the sensitivities of the local community and give priority to preserving Putrajaya as the federal government’s administrative centre," he was reported saying in an earlier press statement.

However Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia's online edition today reported Aseh announcing that no such plans will be considered.

Hard Rock International on Monday clarified that it has no intention to open any new outlet in Malaysia nor issued any statement to that effect, apart from those already announced.

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"Hard Rock International has strict operating procedures to identify and survey a market prior to opening any new outlets, taking into account local culture and market demands.

"The announcement of any new outlets will come from Hard Rock International directly and not from any third party," it said in a statement Monday.

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