KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 ― Ahead of Korean R&B star Taeyang’s concert here next month, federal Islamic authorities have cautioned organisers not to allow a repeat of a controversial incident involving Muslim fans in a meet-and-greet event with this month.
In a report by Malay news portal mStar, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said event organisers must learn from the controversy that arose following the event in which members of Korean boy band B1A4 kissed and hugged with three Muslim girls.
“I believe past experience with the K-pop concert held recently will be a lesson to all parties including organisers so such incident will not be repeated,” Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha said, referring to the B1A4 event.
“Furthermore, I am confident that it will be reviewed thoroughly at the level of committee which gives it permission.”
Othman also urged organisers of the concert scheduled for February 7 to strictly adhere to guidelines provided by Jakim.
A video of the mini-concert uploaded to the Internet showing members of Korean boy band B1A4 hugging their tudung-clad girl fans on stage went viral a fortnight ago, sparking local row for behaviour deemed improper.
The attention that Islamic authorities later paid to the controversy subsequently drew the attention of global media.
Minister Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom responded to say that authorities responsible for approving the organising of any entertainment events and concerts have been advised to remind the event organisers to adhere to entertainment guidelines issued by Jakim.
Othman said last week that the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) will also take “appropriate action” against the event organisers as it was within their jurisdiction to do so.
Jawi had initially sought to investigate the girls for public indecency under Shariah laws that would have allowed for jail of up to six months and a fine of no more than RM1,000, but later conceded it could not compel the girls to come forward after they disregarded a summon by the department.
The B1A4 event organisers have denied claims that the artists had molested three tudung-clad Malay fans on stage last Saturday night, saying that they were against sexual harassment and that the event company was run mostly by women.
Taeyang is an award-winning Korean R&B and pop singer, and also the main vocalist for Big Bang, one of South Korea’s most successful boy bands. His last album “RISE” placed first on the iTunes Album Chart in 10 countries.
