PARLIAMENT Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that the controversial K-Pop concert organised during the National Youth Day 2012 celebration was meant to attract the participation of Chinese youths.

 

"In 2010 and 2011, we did not see widespread participation from many (minorities), especially the Chinese.

"When we organised the K-Pop concert, thousands of Chinese youths were there with us. That is the rationale for trying it out," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

 

While winding-up the Budget 2014 debate for his ministry, Khairy assured that his ministry will not organise similar concerts in the future.

 

Interjecting, Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) said that it is not fair to stereotype the Chinese youths as K-Pop fans.

 

"If you want to woo the young, Chinese and Malay together, you can organise a Bersih 3 event. You do not need four scantily dressed women to attract youths," Khalid said.

 

However, Khairy refuted this, saying that the government will not encourage youths to "create riots" and "beat the police".

 

Khairy added that his ministry had to foot the bill for the concert because private sponsors were unable to cover all aspects of the event.

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