Pahang Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) chief Rushdan Abdul Halim has questioned whether the recent concerts by gay artists are deliberate attempts to promote their lifestyle in Malaysia.

Malay daily Sinar Harian today quoted Rushdan as saying that concerts by gay artists in Malaysia "show as if there are certain quarters promoting such lifestyles".

He specifically referred to the coming Nov 22 concert by Elton John and a concert last year by Adam Lambert, both of whom are are gay.

 Isma, the report says, wants the government to seriously consider calls for the Elton John concert at Genting Highlands Resort to be cancelled.

NONE Meanwhile, Pahang PAS Youth chief Shahril Azman Abdul Halim defended his position despite earning flak for calling for the concert to be banned.

Today's Utusan Malaysia quoted Shahril as saying that PAS espoused such views because the concert was not only unsuitable to the country's culture but it could be considered as a programme promoting vice.

"We are not saying that Malaysia will become like Britain, which recognises same sex marriage, but allowing the concert will be akin to recognising such groups (homosexuals), which is against Allah," he is reported as saying.

Following Shahril's initial comments, former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin advised PAS not to ape the Taliban but to adopt a more moderate and practical approach to Islam.

Responding to the criticism, Utusan quotes Shahril as saying there would always be "risks to bear when expressing the truth".

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