Whether there are complaints from local residents or not, the organisers of the MTV World Stage Live concert, which will feature award winning American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars ( below ), will proceed as planned on July 24.

30 seconds to mars 270511 A spokesperson for MTV Asia said the complaints have been aimed at the venue, I-City in Shah Alam, and not at the concert organiser itself.

In view of I-City being committed to hosting the event, the spokesperson said MTV Asia had no intention of changing its plan.

"(The complaints are) I-City's issue, not our issue... so we will let I-City explain on its part," said the MTV Asia representative when contacted.

Meanwhile Viacom International Media Networks, which owns MTV, said that it has been working closely with I-City to ensure that the show is in compliance with all venue and community requirements.

"We are confident that we'll produce a memorable and successful event," said its executive vice-president and managing director of North and Southeast Asia, Indra Suharjono.

Yesterday, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said he had received an "avalanche" of complaints from residents of Section 7, Shah Alam, who are against the choice of the concert venue.

He said residents claimed I-City was too near their residential area and would pose traffic problems.

No approval yet from MBSA

Khalid, who hails from the conservative Islamic party PAS, which regularly protests against concerts by international artistes, also said I-City was a commercial area and not appropriate for such entertainment events.

Nevertheless, the holding of the concert is yet to be approved by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).

A council member, Izham Hashim, told Malaysiakini that mayor Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan told a council meeting this morning that the application to hold the concert was under consideration.

"I-City must be aware that the event requires a licence from the MBSA licensing department and the licensing committee will be discussing the matter," Izham, who is also a licensing committee member, said when contacted.

The meeting would be held either on June 7 or 8 and among other things, he said, the committee would consider whether the concert would include elements of gambling or interaction between genders.

Izham, who is a PAS member, said that he personally felt that the concert was inappropriate.