- Title: MALAYSIA: Black eyed peas wow fans in Malaysia - Muslims and non-Muslims alike
- Date: 29th September 2009
- Summary: SIGNAGE SLIDE SHOWS STAGE LIGHTS PARTYING FANS VARIOUS OF CHEERING FANS AGAINST A GUINNESS SIGNAGE DEPICTING 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARTHUR'S DAY MUSLIM WOMEN VARIOUS STAGE PERFORMANCE BY THE BLACK EYED PEAS AND CUTAWAYS
- Embargoed: 14th October 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Malaysia
- City:
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA8K22IENRB8M4QSNE5ZIOHWD0I
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Muslims and non-Muslims alike saw the US hip-hop band, the Black Eyed Peas, in concert in Kuala Lumpur after the Malaysian Government reversed its earlier decision to ban Muslims from going to the show because it was sponsored by Guinness brewery.
The grammy award-winning US hip-hop band the Black Eyed Peas entertained 15,000 fans in Sunway Lagoon theme park near Kuala Lumpur on Friday night (September 25).
Initially the Malaysian government had said Malaysian Muslims would not be allowed to attend the concert because the show was sponsored by Guinness beer, marking 250 years since the brewery began.
The Black Eyed Peas had performed in the Malaysian capital before, in 2007, but as part of government crack-down on alcohol, only non-Muslims over 18-years-old were going to be allowed to attend the $100 Ringgit ($29USD) show.
The Malaysian government recently reversed its decision with the Black Eyed Peas headlining the Guinness concert along with three local and two Taiwanese hip-hop groups.
A Muslim fan from Saudi Arabia said he was not at the concert for the beer, anyway, but to enjoy the music.
"Because the song (by Black Eyed Peas) is nice and the girl (Stacy Ferguson) there is sexy, that's it," he said.
His friend echoed his sentiment.
"They shouldn't restrict Muslims from going for such shows. As long as you are well behaved and you like enjoying the music and dancing, it's fun."
Malaysia's image as a moderate Muslim country has been hit by the recent sentencing to cane a woman caught drinking beer.
Foreign acts have often drawn protests by the Pan Malaysian Islamic Party, whose youth wing succeeded in forcing Beyonce to cancel a 2007 concert and sought last year to prevent Canadian singer Avril Lavigne from performing in this mainly Muslim country of 27 million people.
Once again, Malaysia's opposition Islamist party wants U.S. pop star Beyonce to cancel a planned concert in this Southeast Asian country, two years after it prevented the singer from performing, citing moral issues. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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