The band supports Palestine.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will hold talks with Federal Territories mufti Luqman Abdullah to allow the Coldplay concert slated for tomorrow to continue as planned at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
He said this was in view of the fact that there were lobbyists from a movement supporting Palestinians who supported the concert, while there were other parties who suggested that the concert be called off.
“Coldplay is among the bands that support Palestine. There is a small problem I have to say, even the previous government had approved (the concert) also. I will discuss this with the mufti.
“Because there are lobbyists from the Palestinian movement who support and have given their views to the foreign minister, and my office has stated, why should we stop a group that supports the Palestinian cause from performing?” he said during Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) regarding the government’s stance on the concert since Luqman had advised that the concert be called off as it would not benefit society.
Luqman reportedly called on the public to not support the concert as Coldplay is linked to “immoral groups promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) practices”.
The band’s lead singer Chris Martin has been known to regularly display the rainbow flag – often regarded as a symbol of LGBTQ rights – during concerts.
Several other parties had also called for the concert to be cancelled out of respect for the situation in Gaza, Palestine. They also expressed concern that the incident by The 1975 in July might recur.
Coldplay’s gig is expected to benefit Malaysia’s economy due to the expected influx of foreign concertgoers.
Singapore, meanwhile, is expecting a bonanza after it secured the band for six dates in January 2024.