A CALL to ban Elton John’s forthcoming Greatest Hits tour in Malaysia by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) has been met with derision by various artistic bodies.
Datuk Freddie Fernandez, President of an association of artists called Karyawan, is quoted here as saying:
These people (protesting the concert) should all go and live in a cave.
Religious imbecile Shahril Azman Abdul Halim Al-Hafiz, left, wants Elton John's Greatest Hits concert banned in Malaysia
Fernandez – who believes PAS’s anti-gay attitude takes Malaysia back to the dark ages when people used to be burnt at the stake – asked:
Where’s the freedom and what does the future hold for Malaysians if this continues? No one should discriminate against gay or lesbian people.
Fernandez added that John, 64, is a highly talented individual with over four decades of producing great music.
His music is wholesome entertainment. People of all ages enjoy his music. He has even written songs for a Disney movie! The majority just wants to hear a legend perform live for the very first time in this country. They don’t care about his private life.
According to this report, Shahril Azman Abdul Halim Al-Hafiz, the chairman of the PAS youth wing of eastern Pahang state, said the concert at the Genting Highlands resort on November 22 would corrupt young Muslims because of John’s homosexuality.
It’s not good. In Islam homosexuality is forbidden.What he is doing is hedonism. Hedonism is not good in Islam.
But Norman Halim, chairman of the Recording Industry Association Of Malaysia said:
These are just a few narrow-minded people trying to impose their values on everybody. You don’t go to an Elton John concert and suddenly become gay!
Norman also said that these ridiculous protests should not happen if Malaysia wants to move to developed country status.
There is a huge investment involved in bringing shows in to Malaysia. If this continues to happen, promoters would be reluctant to bring any foreign artistes in to the country.
And Voice of Women President Chew Hoong Ling added that the protest was just a publicity stunt for PAS.
It’s also disrespectful to the gay community and human rights. One has a right to choose his or her own way of life.
MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Kerr said:
PAS should stop bullying or intimidating Malaysians who have no issues over John’s concert.
Hat tip: BarrieJohn
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
October 29th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Of you become gay by going to a Elton John concert, how else do you think gay people are made, do you think that they are born that way???
October 29th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
I wouldn’t advise him to go on tour in any of the newly “liberated” countries. Islamic extremism in the form of the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots is really getting a hold, as predicted. Tourism will also take a dive if the truth gets out. I see it as like the French Revolution only bloodier. Watch out Infidels, your time is running out in these countries. Turkey isn’t far behind. I see that Pakistan is using foreign aid to fund the Taliban. What larks, eh, Pip?
October 29th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Barry, have you stoppped the instant edit or did it disappear by accident?
October 29th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
‘You don’t go to an Elton John concert and suddenly become gay!’ and may I add ‘You don’t go to an Elton John concert and suddenly develop taste in music either!’
October 29th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Well I never knew that if I hadn’t listened to all those Dusty Springfield records in the ’60s and Elton John in the ’70s, I’d be straight!
I’ve often thought, why don’t these islamic fundies just make a list [obviously a short one] stating what is allowed by their stupid religion as they are anti just about everything. This stupid man isn’t a proper muslim anyway, he doesn’t have a full fist of a beard.
October 29th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
More religious hoo hah from Malaysia reported here in this segment from BBC R4 “From Our Own Correspondent” this week:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0169253#p00lgkd3
October 29th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
The muslims might change their mind when they see the playlist.
Act of War
Sacrifice
Better Off Dead
Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting
Believe
Blessed
All the Nasties
Watching the Planes Go By
October 29th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Congratulations to the PAS for being the liberal Muslims we all keep hearing about but never see. While they maintain the hard line against homosexuality, they’ve gone soft about music. Music, you see, is banned in Islam. A conservative and traditional Muslim would have simply reminded his brothers that Sir Elton John is a musician and that would have been enough. Hooray for the progress of the PAS! Perhaps next they will sponsor a backgammon tournament, or welcome guide dogs for the blind (also both forbidden in Islam).
Ridiculous and ridiculed.
October 29th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I really can’t stand elton John or his music but I have even less tolerance for rugbutting fundie nutjobs who lets face it hate all music and hold major sway in malaysia.
There were reports recently that heavy metal music fans were being strip searched in school to check they didn’t have tattoos and some were even being carted off to “rehab” facilities and forced to take the sort of rugs used to trat herion addicts.
All religion hates music especially music it can’t control or use to further it’s own ends.
October 29th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
I, along with my good wife, saw Elton live in Sheffield years ago. oddly we both remained straight. When these dweebs go on and on about all the things that are banned or disapproved of in Islam, it never occurs to them that Islam is really really shit. Sad that these people don’t realise that they only get one life and that there is no encore in paradise. So they waste their one and only life by not living it to the full and not only that, they want to drag everyone else down to their miserable level as well.
October 29th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Just had a bad experience. Caught the end of a Widders interview on TV, complete with her trademark snarl, where she says Jesus would not be siding with the protesters outside St Pauls. So now we know.
October 29th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
Angela: I feel that we are not far from the moment when everything on earth will have been banned for “insulting” some aspect of the Muslim faith.
http://www.emirates247.com/new.....6-1.425401
If only the Monty Python team could have a crack at Islam!
October 30th, 2011 at 12:55 am
Sorry about this, as it is somewhat OT – but I’m going to refer back to the previous thread here.
If you haven’t come across a site called ‘Defend The Pope’ before, here’s your chance to see what goes on in the ‘minds’ of modern-day crusaders (you know, those people who really do believe that the pope is actually a good mate of god’s and that it’s okay to kill people if it’s done on god’s name).
Today they are debating what we were all chatting about on the last Freethinker thread – i.e. the Pope apologising for xtians being a really nasty bunch of sadists. As you might imagine, their take on the story is somewhat different to ours.
Feel free to post a comment or two. But be warned, the moderators don’t like bad language, profanity or anything that is too critical. I’ve managed to get one shot away – but the usual tirade of apologetic nonsense is about to hit. So any help or support you can give would be much appreciated.
http://protectthepope.com/?p=4069
October 30th, 2011 at 7:04 am
Remigius: You forgot Madman Across the Water!
October 30th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@AgentCormac: I have tried a response regarding Ratzinger. Awaiting moderation. But man, these people are beyond belief in their superstition numbed veneration of Papa.
I don’t think I’ll return to their site. The recent visit was stomach churning.
November 3rd, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Just had a look at that site… holy cr*p!!! I felt sick… I felt I had to delete my Internet history in case my family found I’d visited it…