Black Eyed Peas' Arthur's Day concert for non-Muslims only
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 - Malaysia has allowed hip-hop group Black Eyed
Peas to play at Arthur's Day in Sunway Lagoon on Sept 25 - one of four
official global spots celebrating Guinness Stout's 250th anniversary -
but only for non-Muslims.
The Information, Communication and Culture Ministry had put in this
condition, apart from telling the brewery not to put any logos or sell
the bitter-sweet brew at the concert which also features local act
Reshmonu, several bands and deejays.
It is learnt that music concert rules disallow breweries or alcoholic
drinks makers from sponsoring such events but the ministry relented as
the concert is expected to boost the tourism industry affected by the
recession and the A(H1N1) flu outbreak.
A sentence in the local Arthur's Day website - www.arthursday.com.my -
states the event is only for non-Muslims aged 18 and above. The
concert at the Sunway Lagoon Surf Beach costs RM103 an entry.
Kuala Lumpur is the Asia-Pacific venue for Arthur's Day, celebrating
founder Arthur Guinness who opened the brewery in Dublin in 1759 with
a 9,000-year lease and is now one of the world's most recognisable
brands. Malaysia, which prides itself for being a Muslim nation, is
one of the top 10 Guinness consuming countries in the world with the
bitter available everywhere.
Apart from the Kuala Lumpur concert, Guinness is organising concerts
in hometown Dublin and London apart from events in Australia, Canada,
Indonesia and the United States.
The restrictions on Muslims comes on the back of the suspended caning
for a Muslim mother-of-two caught drinking beer, PAS protests against
beer sales at convenience outlets in Selangor and the Michael Learns
To Rock concert in Genting Highlands on Sept 5 which falls during the
current Ramadan fasting month.
Both PAS and Umno, the dominant party in the ruling Barisan Nasional
federal government, have been at pains to flash their Islamic
credentials for the crucial Malay vote.
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim
last month came under attack for proposing an Internet filter
ostensibly to cut out cyberspace pornography although critics said it
was to police online dissent.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak stopped the tender for the
Internet filter which authorities said was actually a survey to gauge
a feasibility for such a filter. Najib also criticised a syariah court
ruling to cane Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno for drinking beer, urging
her to appeal against the sentence.
The ruling to shut out Muslims from the Black Eyed Peas concert is
strange as they last performed to an unrestricted audience in Malaysia
in late 2007. The Black-Eyed Peas is riding high in the charts with
their "Boom Boom Pow" single from their latest album "The E.N.D" which
stands for The Energy Never Dies.
Malaysia has played host to several international acts over the years
but pop sensation Beyonce Knowles shelved her Malaysian concert also
in late 2007 and went to perform in Indonesia after pressure to cover
up and tone down what was seen as a sexually-provocative performance.
However, singer Gwen Stefani dressed modestly during her concert in
2007 while organisers for the Pussy Cat Dolls concert in Sunway Lagoon
were fined for their sexy performance in 2006.
Guinness has organised a global celebration for Arthur's Day which
starts in Dublin at 1759 GMT on Sept 24 (1.59am Malaysian time, Sept
25) with glasses being raised to Arthur Guinness in over 150
countries.
According to its www.g250years.com celebration website, there will be
spectacular events in major cities like New York to intimate affairs
at bars or pubs.
In Canada, there will be a string of black carpet VIP parties from
Vancouver, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics, through to Toronto,
Ottawa and Halifax.
Australians can party at each major state capital city in what it
termed are iconic Guinness venues while in Indonesia, there will be a
bus safari travelling through 10 of its key cities from October.













