Despite opposition from PAS and local residents, the Selangor government has given the go-ahead for the MTV World Stage concert, scheduled for July 24 at I-City Shah Alam.

khalid ibrahim "Approvals for the concert had been given early last year. To me, there is no problem with the event, though they must observe some restrictions," Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said today.

The caveat, Khalid told a press conference after chairing the weekly state executive council meeting, is that the event must end before midnight, ensure a minimum sound system impact on neighbouring residents and decent standards of dress and behaviour must be observed.

Foreign acts, such as the rock band 30 Seconds From Mars that want to perform in Malaysia, already have to submit to various restrictions imposed by the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry.

The concert at I-City will be aired over MTV Asia on Aug 8.

The state's blessing for the event comes in the face of mounting protests from residents living near the venue and from PAS.

The Islamic party's Shah Alam parliamentarian Khalid Samad is currently leading a campaign collecting signatures for a memorandum asking that the concert not be held at that venue.

Venue well away from central Shah Alam

They plan to submit the protest note to the MB at the end of this month.

Asked about the protest, Khalid dismissed the matter, saying, "Everyone can support, everyone can protest."

The MB explained that I-City was well away from central Shah Alam where the mosques and other public places are located.

Khalid added that the concert was also in line with state government policy of getting the youth to be more active.

PAS' criticism of the concert has drawn the ire of MCA, which accused the Islamic party of attempting to impose Islamic religious mores on non-Muslims.

"As usual, PAS is impinging prejudices on things they don't even understand... sometimes, they are just playing to the gallery," said MCA vice-president and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Gan Ping Siew.

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