KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 — Erykah Badu’s concert tomorrow has been banned, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said today, after a photograph revealing a tattoo on her with the Arabic word for Allah appeared.The picture of the Grammy-winning US singer appeared in the The Star yesterday
The Information, Communications and Culture Minister today announced on his official Twitter page that the concert was “violating Puspal guidelines, under religious sensitivity and Malaysian values”.
Puspal is the central agency for filming and performance permits, which comes under Rais’s jurisdiction.
When contacted, event organiser Pineapple Concerts Sdn Bhd declined to comment.
Yesterday, three top editors from the local English daily were hauled up by the Home Ministry over the publication of a photograph of the American singer.
The Star published a photograph of Badu with two tattoos with the Arabic word for ‘Allah’, or God, in a profile piece in the Star2 entertainment section.
Some Muslim groups have said Badu was not a good role model for young Malaysians because of the tattoos.
AP reported that an information ministry official said a government committee decided today to forbid the concert because Badu has “offended the religious sensitivities” of Muslims by posing with such tattoos.
He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to make public statements.
The Star published an apology today.
It is understood that the American R&B singer is already in town and had been promoting tomorrow’s concert in interviews to local media.
After Malaysia, Erykah is scheduled to perform in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.
Post time 28-2-2012 05:06 PM
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