Malaysia sticks with Ed Sheeran show amid calls to cancel over LGBTQ row

There is no change in the approval status for the coming Ed Sheeran concert in Kuala Lumpur for now, Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Wednesday.

Fahmi said the Islamic Development Malaysia Department (Jakim) and the Home Ministry are involved in discussions to grant approvals for concert permits by foreign acts.

“I have spoken about this to the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes (Puspal) and I take note of the suggestion by the Penang mufti on this.

“However, Jakim and the Home Ministry are among the 16 agencies involved in the discussions to approve applications for gigs by foreign artists, through the Puspal committee. Therefore, thorough vetting would have been done by all these agencies,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday.

“We take note of the views but we have a process. We will look into the matter if there is a need. At this time, there are no changes in the approval for the concert.”

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Fahmi was responding to Penang state’s top Muslim cleric Wan Salim Mohd Noor’s call for the government to cancel the permit for the concert by Sheeran, who is a known supporter of the LGBTQ community.

“As mufti, it is my responsibility to urge the Malaysian government, through the relevant ministries (Communication Ministry and Digital Ministry) to revoke the permit for the concert immediately,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian on Wednesday.

Wan Salim said Malaysia, as a nation with a predominantly Muslim population, should not allow concerts featuring artists who support “sinful” activities.

He also urged all Muslims in the country to boycott the concert.

The British singer is slated to perform at Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Jalil National Stadium on February 24 as part of his “+-=÷x Asia Tour”, which will also feature guest singer-songwriter Calum Scott.

Sheeran previously held a concert in Malaysia in 2019 for his “Divide” world tour.

This story was first published by The Star